763 replies to this topic

[Monster Mash]

According to the local news the Oracle wing and what appears to be cross beams have arrived at Pier 80.

[Guitar]

how is it local news scooped SA?

[SW Sailor]

It wasn't only local news that had the scoop.

[catmanjr]

http://www.sail-worl...Francisco/98392

It was sail world.

[maxmini]

how is it local news scooped SA?

We all get up to date news from other sources. We just come here to " discuss " it

[kiwi_jon]

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Oracle-Racings-wingsail-arrives-in-San-Francisco/98392

It was sail world.

And Sail World got it from here

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?2640-Completing-The-AC-72-Puzzle-Oracle-Racing-s-Big-Wing-Arrives

[Xlot]

And Sail World got it from here

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?2640-Completing-The-AC-72-Puzzle-Oracle-Racing-s-Big-Wing-Arrives

Hulls for the 2nd boat will begin immediately after the 1st ones are complete ...

Ergo, they should be nearly identical to those on 1st boat. Q.E.D.

... and will be shipped to New Zealand for winter practice in 2013, along with however many days they have on their 30 day calendar allotment

Wonder if that'll be with #1 or #2 wing. Artemis' delayed, fatigue-like structural failure may give them pause.

[dogwatch]

Wonder if that'll be with #1 or #2 wing. Artemis' delayed, fatigue-like structural failure may give them pause.

Materials science isn't my bag but I don't very much associate carbon spars with fatigue failure. Am I wrong?

[~Stingray~]

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Oracle-Racings-wingsail-arrives-in-San-Francisco/98392

It was sail world.

And Sail World got it from here

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?2640-Completing-The-AC-72-Puzzle-Oracle-Racing-s-Big-Wing-Arrives

Nice photos at PD, cool video too:

[~Stingray~]

More photos, at OR's FB
http://www.facebook....=3&l=9517aa7abd

[~Stingray~]

This shot gives good perspective on just how ferkin' tall these wings will be

[Tony-F18]

The beams dont even look that big to me, they do look a lot like those on Alinghi 5.

[Xlot]

Wonder if that'll be with #1 or #2 wing. Artemis' delayed, fatigue-like structural failure may give them pause.

Materials science isn't my bag but I don't very much associate carbon spars with fatigue failure. Am I wrong?

Not at all, that's why I wrote fatigue-like. For lack of a better word describing progressive deterioration - be it delaminaton or debonding - weakening the structure until it fails. But certainly the mechanism (and much lower number of cycles to failure) is different from classic fatigue.

[~Stingray~]

The beams dont even look that big to me, they do look a lot like those on Alinghi 5.

For shape comparison

[nav]

This shot gives good perspective on just how ferkin' tall these wings will be

Nah, the truck is tiny!




Spare ribs anyone?




Shame they ended up in Guantanamo Bay by mistake!

[mattdarnell]

Swung by pier 80 today and there wasn't any action. Sad to see DoGzilla just wrapped in the plastic, wish it was on display somewhere.

 dogzilla.jpg   562.05K   98 downloads

[Dixie]

Nice shot Matt, I feel similarly, so much so that I get sad every time I see her there.
Did you stand on your car to get that, or squeeze your lens through the fence.

[~Stingray~]

Looks like it has moved?

[Monster Mash]

^
They're getting it ready for display @ Pier 80 for the July/Aug launch of ORs first 72.

[mattdarnell]

Nice shot Matt, I feel similarly, so much so that I get sad every time I see her there.
Did you stand on your car to get that, or squeeze your lens through the fence.

There are some big cement blocks next to the fence, if I stood on them I could push the lens though the barbed wire.

I don't know if it moved, I have never seen it before. Attached is a picture from the other side if that helps.

 other side1.jpg   486.8K   75 downloads

[~Stingray~]

^ Thanks, may not have moved yet after all.

[nav]

Nice shot Matt, I feel similarly, so much so that I get sad every time I see her there.
Did you stand on your car to get that, or squeeze your lens through the fence.

There are some big cement blocks next to the fence, if I stood on them I could push the lens though the barbed wire.

I don't know if it moved, I have never seen it before. Attached is a picture from the other side if that helps.

 other side1.jpg   486.8K   75 downloads

Third World? Needs a big event to give it a kick in the guts!
Peskin = wanker

[DufferAlert]

For Dogwatch .... http://www.bbc.co.uk...player/b01jysqn 13 minutes in Radcliffe and Maconie discussing MC Hammer (who they opened the show with) on Oracle

[~Stingray~]

[dogwatch]

For Dogwatch .... http://www.bbc.co.uk...player/b01jysqn 13 minutes in Radcliffe and Maconie discussing MC Hammer (who they opened the show with) on Oracle

Thanks I enjoyed that. Not very reverential are they? "His trousers are more iconic than he is".

British listeners of a certain age will also enjoy the comparison of Jimmy Spithill to Spit the Dog.

[DufferAlert]

For Dogwatch .... http://www.bbc.co.uk...player/b01jysqn 13 minutes in Radcliffe and Maconie discussing MC Hammer (who they opened the show with) on Oracle

Thanks I enjoyed that. Not very reverential are they? "His trousers are more iconic than he is".

British listeners of a certain age will also enjoy the comparison of Jimmy Spithill to Spit the Dog.

Later on someone said they could use the trousers as a spinnaker. Actually they opened with a track that sampled him

[CheekyMonkey]

^ Thanks, may not have moved yet after all.

DZ hasn't moved. Older Google maps imagery has it sitting in the same spot, albeit sometimes obscured from the channel view by the floating drydock.



And while I'm willing to give the "new" AC a chance, there's just something wrong about seeing those major parts for the AC72 being delivered from halfway around the world, emblazoned with "Team USA" logos. Apropos for the times we live in, I suppose.

[DufferAlert]

Larry's Island-
http://www.theregist...on_buys_island/

[maxmini]

Larry's Island-
http://www.theregist...on_buys_island/

Larry had some pocket change burning a hole in his pocket

[Love2Sail]

So if Larry keeps the cup, will the next one be in his back yard? Seems like a good way to revitalize the island economy.

[~Stingray~]

cool surfer music! lol



although with that wing maybe a track from Rocky would be better

[Monster Mash]

^
They're getting it ready for display @ Pier 80 for the July/Aug launch of ORs first 72.

Info

http://www.pressure-...zilla-Uncovered

[maxmini]

^
They're getting it ready for display @ Pier 80 for the July/Aug launch of ORs first 72.

Info

http://www.pressure-...zilla-Uncovered

Wingless but better than nothing .

[Mariner]

http://blog.sfgate.c...e-americas-cup/

Kind of a beefcake peice for the ladies and gay crowd I guess ... enjoy.

[~Stingray~]

Pics of a new Oracle RIB
http://www.seadek.com/blog/?p=2247

[~Stingray~]

http://blog.sfgate.c...e-americas-cup/

Kind of a beefcake peice for the ladies and gay crowd I guess ... enjoy.

That video is pretty funny

[Rennmaus]

http://blog.sfgate.c...e-americas-cup/

Kind of a beefcake peice for the ladies and gay crowd I guess ... enjoy.

They will be welcome in SF.

[Evo]

VSail.info: Enough about the America's Cup in general, let's talk about your team. Where is Oracle Racing standing right now in its defense of the Cup?
Russell Coutts: I haven't spent a lot of time with Oracle Racing lately. I have been really focused on the event for quite some time now.

VSail.info: You are the CEO of the team though, aren't you?
Russell Coutts: Yes but I just haven't had much time to actually be the CEO of Oracle Racing. They are progressing well at the moment. Jimmy Spithill is, obviously, leading all the sailing operations and so forth. He's 33 years old and I think he's also capable of leading the team now and that's a good thing. I think it's a great thing. We want these guys to grow, I certainly want that. I think that it wouldn't be acceptable, probably, for him to just keep the same role, year after year after year. He has to grow and have more management responsibility and ultimately do what I was doing at Alinghi or Oracle last time. I think it's great.

Whoa Nelly!

This sounds like TNZ, Year 2000 [just before the traitor crisis].

Err, um ... yea ... well ... who knows?

Something is going on.

he was still calling himself CEO of Oracle Racing at US Immigration a couple of weeks ago. From our pov it was a humorous exchange.

For those that haven't enjoyed the grandeur of the room in the corner of the airport it's a place where impatient people get to sit and wonder while their passports are slowly scrutinised. Upon entering the white painted hell hole we noted Mr Cowts as we now call him, hunched, half asleep over a book. Those first class flights with Air NZ can be hell. I'll leave to your imagination what it was like for we of the herd in cattle class and how that feels after 11 hours.

Everyone basking in the glow of those neon tubes wants the process to keep moving as fast as possible and after he gave no response to the third call for Mr Cowts it was time for action. Tapped him on the shoulder a couple of times before he woke from his slumber...."Oiii Russell....your up mate!"

The great man shook himself to semi alert, thanked me and strode forward to Mr Sukiyama's waiting interrogation.....

Mr S....."It says here you are the CEO of Oracle sir"
RC......."I am the CEO of Oracle Racing."
Mr S....."Mr Ellison is the CEO of Oracle sir. You are not Mr. Ellison."
RC......."Yes but I am the CEO of Oracle Racing. We are the defenders of the Americas Cup"
Mr S......"The what?"

and so it went on until Mr S. (a very nice man btw) was convinced. Us chuckling all the while at the back of the class.

Yeah...the USA is right behind this effort on all levels

[krispy kreme]

VSail.info: Enough about the America's Cup in general, let's talk about your team. Where is Oracle Racing standing right now in its defense of the Cup?
Russell Coutts: I haven't spent a lot of time with Oracle Racing lately. I have been really focused on the event for quite some time now.

VSail.info: You are the CEO of the team though, aren't you?
Russell Coutts: Yes but I just haven't had much time to actually be the CEO of Oracle Racing. They are progressing well at the moment. Jimmy Spithill is, obviously, leading all the sailing operations and so forth. He's 33 years old and I think he's also capable of leading the team now and that's a good thing. I think it's a great thing. We want these guys to grow, I certainly want that. I think that it wouldn't be acceptable, probably, for him to just keep the same role, year after year after year. He has to grow and have more management responsibility and ultimately do what I was doing at Alinghi or Oracle last time. I think it's great.

Whoa Nelly!

This sounds like TNZ, Year 2000 [just before the traitor crisis].




Err, um ... yea ... well ... who knows?

Something is going on.

he was still calling himself CEO of Oracle Racing at US Immigration a couple of weeks ago. From our pov it was a humorous exchange.

For those that haven't enjoyed the grandeur of the room in the corner of the airport it's a place where impatient people get to sit and wonder while their passports are slowly scrutinised. Upon entering the white painted hell hole we noted Mr Cowts as we now call him, hunched, half asleep over a book. Those first class flights with Air NZ can be hell. I'll leave to your imagination what it was like for we of the herd in cattle class and how that feels after 11 hours.

Everyone basking in the glow of those neon tubes wants the process to keep moving as fast as possible and after he gave no response to the third call for Mr Cowts it was time for action. Tapped him on the shoulder a couple of times before he woke from his slumber...."Oiii Russell....your up mate!"

The great man shook himself to semi alert, thanked me and strode forward to Mr Sukiyama's waiting interrogation.....

Mr S....."It says here you are the CEO of Oracle sir"
RC......."I am the CEO of Oracle Racing."
Mr S....."Mr Ellison is the CEO of Oracle sir. You are not Mr. Ellison."
RC......."Yes but I am the CEO of Oracle Racing. We are the defenders of the Americas Cup"
Mr S......"The what?"

and so it went on until Mr S. (a very nice man btw) was convinced. Us chuckling all the while at the back of the class.

Yeah...the USA is right behind this effort on all levels

Hee Haw! which airport? JFK?

[Evo]

G'day Jono. SFO....it's Mr. Szabo at JFK.

[krispy kreme]

it's Mr. Szabo at JFK.

Guffaw!!!!!!!!!!!

Well played.

[dumper]

when is oracle launching their 72?

[MrSurly]

when is oracle launching their 72?

July 4 would be a good choice.

[eric e]

when is oracle launching their 72?

July 4 would be a good choice.

it'll have to be after etnz

so they know which way to shop their photos

[nav]

when is oracle launching their 72?

July 4 would be a good choice.

it'll have to be after etnz

so they know which way to shop their photos

Here are some that they are already considering:

[GauchoGreg]

Seriously, do we have any idea what the timeline is? Could we be expecting a launch, without warning, within the next few days or week? Or is there an idea of them waiting a little while?

[~Stingray~]

No idea either. There was a 'Looking forward' piece (posted by nav already iirc) at AC.com where they said OR will launch 'next month' but the article byline was July 1 and could easily have been written in June.

It's possible they haven't named the date because they can't guarantee one yet.

[nav]

No idea either. There was a 'Looking forward' piece (posted by nav already iirc) at AC.com where they said OR will launch 'next month' but the article byline was July 1 and could easily have been written in June.

It's possible they haven't named the date because they can't guarantee one yet.

I noticed the 'next month' comment as well - which month is not 100% certain though!

Obviously we'll know when it happens - if anyone needs to know before that, they had better get sniffing around!

ORACLE TEAM USA now heads home to its base at Pier 80 in San Francisco for the next four months with a full slate of activities on the schedule. The team’s first AC72 will begin sailing next month, ....

[F-18 5150]

It will be launched in conjunction with the San Francisco AC-45 event next month. Launched a couple days before practice starts then put on display with USA-17 and a AC-45. Past Present and future all together.

[~Stingray~]

That would put the launch date at close to the weekend of Aug 18/19.

Cool, thanks for the tip!

[nav]

It will be launched in conjunction with the San Francisco AC-45 event next month. Launched a couple days before practice starts then put on display with USA-17 and a AC-45. Past Present and future all together.

Good info, and it makes sense, thanks. Now tell us all about the foils so we know it's legit

[F-18 5150]

It will be launched in conjunction with the San Francisco AC-45 event next month. Launched a couple days before practice starts then put on display with USA-17 and a AC-45. Past Present and future all together.

Good info, and it makes sense, thanks. Now tell us all about the foils so we know it's legit

Foils One starboard, one port. Rudders one starboard, one port.

[nav]

It will be launched in conjunction with the San Francisco AC-45 event next month. Launched a couple days before practice starts then put on display with USA-17 and a AC-45. Past Present and future all together.

Good info, and it makes sense, thanks. Now tell us all about the foils so we know it's legit

Foils One starboard, one port. Rudders one starboard, one port.

Damn, you really do know your stuff - so it's all true!

[~Stingray~]

May be a repost, but there are more pics here of the new OR RIBs than what I recall seeing before:
http://www.seadek.com/blog/?p=2256

This has black seats but the boat LE was on board in a FP photo from Newport on Sunday had grey/leather, and also had OR/TUSA emblems (and two young vixens with matching sunglasses who looked like twins, but anyway..) so LE may have been aboard something else entirely, possibly also new.

The new ETNZ boats are cats, right?

[dumper]

May be a repost, but there are more pics here of the new OR RIBs than what I recall seeing before:
http://www.seadek.com/blog/?p=2256

This has black seats but the boat LE was on board in a FP photo from Newport on Sunday had grey/leather, and also had OR/TUSA emblems (and two young vixens with matching sunglasses who looked like twins, but anyway..) so LE may have been aboard something else entirely, possibly also new.

The new ETNZ boats are cats, right?

right http://www.morrellim...com/etnztender/

[~Stingray~]

^ Perfect link, cool

[Dixie]

It will be launched in conjunction with the San Francisco AC-45 event next month. Launched a couple days before practice starts then put on display with USA-17 and a AC-45. Past Present and future all together.

Good info, and it makes sense, thanks. Now tell us all about the foils so we know it's legit

Made me think it's time for a poll. See new thread topic...

[dumper]

just thought about the last cup and was wondering if jimmy will be using his 'special glasses'?

[Indio]

just thought about the last cup and was wondering if jimmy will be using his 'special glasses'?

He'll also be wearing the same underpants and socks he wore on USA-17.

[dumper]

just thought about the last cup and was wondering if jimmy will be using his 'special glasses'?

He'll also be wearing the same underpants and socks he wore on USA-17.

he recently took the shrink wrap off and put them on 'display' next to USA17

[K38BOB]

just thought about the last cup and was wondering if jimmy will be using his 'special glasses'?

He'll also be wearing the same underpants and socks he wore on USA-17.

Maybe TK can start another enlightening thread on just this topic

[SW Sailor]

just thought about the last cup and was wondering if jimmy will be using his 'special glasses'?

He'll also be wearing the same underpants and socks he wore on USA-17.

Maybe TK can start another enlightening worthless political thread on just this topic

Corrected.

[F-18 5150]

"We're looking at August for the launch.
With the 30 days' limit on sailing time with the AC72 this year, there is no pressure to hit a deadline, so we'll be ready when we're ready."


Tim Jeffery

Oracle Racing

Communications Director

[GauchoGreg]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

ORACLE TEAM USA has been working with the management of Northport and the community of Marsden Point on plans for a temporary base in New Zealand’s North Island. Instead, the America’s Cup champion will continue to keep its activities focused in the U.S.

The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle and means that the U.S. rather than New Zealand will be used for the winter program.

“Successful America’s Cup campaigns are made from constantly reassessing a team’s priorities and evolving your development plans within a finite time frame,” said General Manager Grant Simmer.

“Extending our summer and fall training session in San Francisco effectively closed the New Zealand window. The management at Northport and community at Marsden Point have been extremely helpful and welcoming. The merits of Marsden Point as a sailing venue have not changed; it is only our priorities that have changed,” added Simmer.

ORACLE TEAM USA is currently training and testing with AC45 wingsail catamarans on San Francisco Bay ahead of the America’s Cup World Series events in August and October, as well as preparing for the launch in August of its first AC72.

http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/ORACLE-TEAM-USA/Latest/News/2012/07-July/ORACLE-TEAM-USA-REVIEWS-WINTER-TRAINING/

[Koukel]

So much for New Zealand training:

Too much secrety stuff. In San Francisco you can sail in plain site and hardly anyone will even notice.

Koukel

[Monster Mash]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

ORACLE TEAM USA has been working with the management of Northport and the community of Marsden Point on plans for a temporary base in New Zealand's North Island. Instead, the America's Cup champion will continue to keep its activities focused in the U.S.

The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle and means that the U.S. rather than New Zealand will be used for the winter program.

"Successful America's Cup campaigns are made from constantly reassessing a team's priorities and evolving your development plans within a finite time frame," said General Manager Grant Simmer.

"Extending our summer and fall training session in San Francisco effectively closed the New Zealand window. The management at Northport and community at Marsden Point have been extremely helpful and welcoming. The merits of Marsden Point as a sailing venue have not changed; it is only our priorities that have changed," added Simmer.

ORACLE TEAM USA is currently training and testing with AC45 wingsail catamarans on San Francisco Bay ahead of the America's Cup World Series events in August and October, as well as preparing for the launch in August of its first AC72.

http://www.americasc...INTER-TRAINING/

That never passed the sniff test for me. Surprised so many others were fooled.

[nav]

All boards up - what's that all about? (probably shopped!)

And this - any guesses? The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle

Did they break their first wing too?

[~Stingray~]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

http://www.americasc...INTER-TRAINING/

That is big news. Must really suck for the Northport folks!

[F-18 5150]

All boards up - what's that all about? (probably shopped!)

And this - any guesses? The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle

Did they break their first wing too?

The "L" foils on the boat are raised for the turn down or when the boat is in an over powered condition.

[Guitar]

Frikkin' bitchin shot. Love the spray.

[F-18 5150]

A lot of Multihulls will lift the boards part or all the way in nasty conditions. Reduces the tendency to trip over itself. In that shot you can see there is about half board on one boat down. The other boat is hard to tell from that angle.

[nav]

A lot of Multihulls will lift the boards part or all the way in nasty conditions. Reduces the tendency to trip over itself. In that shot you can see there is about half board on one boat down. The other boat is hard to tell from that angle.

There seems to have been little of that with the AC45s in the ACWS so far. It's just "drop one down - pull one up" for every tack or gybe. I'm sure there's something to be gained by thinking a little beyond that in certain situations.

[~Stingray~]

^ especially if you're running with L's, probably..

[SimonN]

Of as much if not more interest is the fact they are testing one boat with headsail and one without.

[~Stingray~]

Frikkin' bitchin shot. Love the spray.

* 1000 Awesome photo

That leech being so smooth, are they even running standard wings?

[~HHN92~]

All boards up - what's that all about? (probably shopped!)

And this - any guesses? The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle

Did they break their first wing too?

Maybe they have hit on something 'new' and cannot be ready or afford the time for shifting camps.

[eric e]

maybe just testing their theories

on the cross over point for headsail downwind

that's what 2 boat test is for

[maxmini]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

ORACLE TEAM USA has been working with the management of Northport and the community of Marsden Point on plans for a temporary base in New Zealand’s North Island. Instead, the America’s Cup champion will continue to keep its activities focused in the U.S.

The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle and means that the U.S. rather than New Zealand will be used for the winter program.

“Successful America’s Cup campaigns are made from constantly reassessing a team’s priorities and evolving your development plans within a finite time frame,” said General Manager Grant Simmer.

“Extending our summer and fall training session in San Francisco effectively closed the New Zealand window. The management at Northport and community at Marsden Point have been extremely helpful and welcoming. The merits of Marsden Point as a sailing venue have not changed; it is only our priorities that have changed,” added Simmer.

ORACLE TEAM USA is currently training and testing with AC45 wingsail catamarans on San Francisco Bay ahead of the America’s Cup World Series events in August and October, as well as preparing for the launch in August of its first AC72.

http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/ORACLE-TEAM-USA/Latest/News/2012/07-July/ORACLE-TEAM-USA-REVIEWS-WINTER-TRAINING/

Practice in the venue where the actual races are to be held ?

Advantage - Oracle

Never made any sence to go elsewhere . If the other teams can pull it off they should as well .

USA USA USA

[F-18 5150]

Winter wind in the bay tends to be really light.

[Tornado-Cat]

All boards up - what's that all about? (probably shopped!)

And this - any guesses? The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle

Did they break their first wing too?

The "L" foils on the boat are raised for the turn down or when the boat is in an over powered condition.

Dagger boards are allways up in heavy conditions and nothing differs from an F18 here, we can't even say it is an L foil. Most asthonishing are the regular sails and how similarly trimmed they are. Also, one has a jib, the other does not. And conditions are very, very strong. But is or is not PS ?

[Mariner]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

ORACLE TEAM USA has been working with the management of Northport and the community of Marsden Point on plans for a temporary base in New Zealand's North Island. Instead, the America's Cup champion will continue to keep its activities focused in the U.S.

The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle and means that the U.S. rather than New Zealand will be used for the winter program.

"Successful America's Cup campaigns are made from constantly reassessing a team's priorities and evolving your development plans within a finite time frame," said General Manager Grant Simmer.

"Extending our summer and fall training session in San Francisco effectively closed the New Zealand window. The management at Northport and community at Marsden Point have been extremely helpful and welcoming. The merits of Marsden Point as a sailing venue have not changed; it is only our priorities that have changed," added Simmer.

ORACLE TEAM USA is currently training and testing with AC45 wingsail catamarans on San Francisco Bay ahead of the America's Cup World Series events in August and October, as well as preparing for the launch in August of its first AC72.

http://www.americasc...INTER-TRAINING/

Practice in the venue where the actual races are to be held ?

Advantage - Oracle

Never made any sence to go elsewhere . If the other teams can pull it off they should as well .

USA USA USA

Agree completely! Never understood the NZ training thing. Why else would Artemis come here and stay, they get it. The local knowledge buildup is critical... the AC has NEVER been sailed in an estuary with tidal and current conditions, submerged rocks and shoals etc before.

[~Stingray~]

All boards up - what's that all about? (probably shopped!)

And this - any guesses? The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle

Did they break their first wing too?

The "L" foils on the boat are raised for the turn down or when the boat is in an over powered condition.

Dagger boards are allways up in heavy conditions and nothing differs from an F18 here, we can't even say it is an L foil. Most asthonishing are the regular sails and how similarly trimmed they are. Also, one has a jib, the other does not. And conditions are very, very strong. But is or is not PS ?

Are they regular sails?

They look it to me too from on a teeny screen - why would they spend time and effort doing that?

edit, it's not just the trim so amazingly similar - checkout the spray! excellent photo

[CarbonComposite]

So much for New Zealand training:

ORACLE TEAM USA announces a change to its proposed winter training plans in New Zealand.

ORACLE TEAM USA has been working with the management of Northport and the community of Marsden Point on plans for a temporary base in New Zealand's North Island. Instead, the America's Cup champion will continue to keep its activities focused in the U.S.

The change of plans reflects a recent change in emphasis in the boat testing and development cycle and means that the U.S. rather than New Zealand will be used for the winter program.

"Successful America's Cup campaigns are made from constantly reassessing a team's priorities and evolving your development plans within a finite time frame," said General Manager Grant Simmer.

"Extending our summer and fall training session in San Francisco effectively closed the New Zealand window. The management at Northport and community at Marsden Point have been extremely helpful and welcoming. The merits of Marsden Point as a sailing venue have not changed; it is only our priorities that have changed," added Simmer.

ORACLE TEAM USA is currently training and testing with AC45 wingsail catamarans on San Francisco Bay ahead of the America's Cup World Series events in August and October, as well as preparing for the launch in August of its first AC72.

http://www.americasc...INTER-TRAINING/

Practice in the venue where the actual races are to be held ?

Advantage - Oracle

Never made any sence to go elsewhere . If the other teams can pull it off they should as well .

USA USA USA

Agree completely! Never understood the NZ training thing. Why else would Artemis come here and stay, they get it. The local knowledge buildup is critical... the AC has NEVER been sailed in an estuary with tidal and current conditions, submerged rocks and shoals etc before.

When the Wind Machine is turned on, the sailing is most predictable. Sailing through the winter provides knowledge that may prove advantageous if the Wind Machine is not running on a particular race day. But isn't there a provision that liints the total number of practice days a team is allowed on the water? I'm starting to lose track.

[easyrider]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

[Dixie]

There are typical areas and then there is the rest of the bay. When OR was doing their two boat testing between World Series races, they sailed a lot on the north shore of the Bay, which is further from *most* land based cameras. Essentially Yellow Bluff to Harding to Angel Island.

[easyrider]

There are typical areas and then there is the rest of the bay. When OR was doing their two boat testing between World Series races, they sailed a lot on the north shore of the Bay, which is further from *most* land based cameras. Essentially Yellow Bluff to Harding to Angel Island.

yes, a very sneaky bunch

[Monster Mash]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

Bit shallow for AC cats over there.
Berkerely Circle average depth 6-8'

[maxmini]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

Bit shallow for AC cats over there.
Berkerely Circle average depth 6-8'

I've sailed both a Santa Cruz 70 ( 9 ft draft) and a TP -52 ( 10 ft draft ) in those waters and haven't hit a thing That area was used as a alternate course on more than one occasion for the BBS . If its truly 6-8 now it must be on off those global warming things

[easyrider]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

Bit shallow for AC cats over there.
Berkerely Circle average depth 6-8'

I've sailed both a Santa Cruz 70 ( 9 ft draft) and a TP -52 ( 10 ft draft ) in those waters and haven't hit a thing That area was used as a alternate course on more than one occasion for the BBS . If its truly 6-8 now it must be on off those global warming things

yes, plenty of water in the Western half and the shipping lanes. Lots of water to play in. The Circle was intended more as a reference to the general area. cheers.

[Mariner]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

Bit shallow for AC cats over there.
Berkerely Circle average depth 6-8'

Maybe they could go out and play with Adventure Cat

[Monster Mash]

Winter sailing on SF bay provides great opportunity for OR and AR. The 3 areas for winter series are typically city front area (GGYC, SYC, CYC) and Berkeley circle area (BYC, EYC, and Regatta Pro series), and South Bay (SBYC,). Most days city front is light wind (2-6 knots) and currents can over power wind for displacement boats. Berkeley circle area (including the deeper waters just West and North of the circle tend to have a light but steady breeze. Typically a mid morning Northerly driven by the cSacramento valley fog bank sitting up in Susiun Bay and then shifting to Westerly in the afternoon. These breezes usually max out at 10 knots. The South bay can also deliver good sailing, particularly any days that have a south in the breeze. Good fetch for breeze build but not enough for too much chop action.

Of course there is always the storm sailing. Southerly before the storm, squally as the storm hits for 4-24 hours and then a day of West to Northwest clearing breeze. 10-40 knots through this cycle.

It's going to be awesome! Lots of Big Cat sailing.

Bit shallow for AC cats over there.
Berkerely Circle average depth 6-8'

I've sailed both a Santa Cruz 70 ( 9 ft draft) and a TP -52 ( 10 ft draft ) in those waters and haven't hit a thing That area was used as a alternate course on more than one occasion for the BBS . If its truly 6-8 now it must be on off those global warming things

Seriously doubt that you sailed on a SC70 and a TP52 in the Berkeley Circle. Check the charts.

[CarbonComposite]

Isn't that MLLW? Should be room on any sort of plus tide for a 10' keel. Not that I would do it myself. . .

[Summerwind]

So 2 boat testing is now being called "Defender Trials".

In parallel to the challenger series, ORACLE TEAM USA will hold Defender Trials to strengthen its bid to defend the Cup. Jimmy Spithill, the skipper of ORACLE TEAM USA when it won the Cup in 2010, will helm one of the boats, while Ben Ainslie, multiple Olympic Gold Medalist from the UK will helm the other. They will go head to head on the same racetrack and on the same days as the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers.

http://www.americascup.com/en/Latest/News/2012/8/2013-Americas-Cup-program-includes-55-days-of-racing/

[~Stingray~]

^ since it always has been called "Defender Trials" what is your attempted point?

If the yak is about the fact we have only one team trying to Defend this time, well duh! No news there either.

The biggy to me in that announcement is the suggestion that JS and crew may not get the nod come ACSF R1. It will be a fierce series, possibly even better than among the Challs.

[SW Sailor]

So 2 boat testing is now being called "Defender Trials".

Probably because that's what they are.

[SW Sailor]

Isn't that MLLW? Should be room on any sort of plus tide for a 10' keel. Not that I would do it myself. . .

Not a good area for deep draft boats - certainly anything over 9'.

[WetHog]

So 2 boat testing is now being called "Defender Trials".

In parallel to the challenger series, ORACLE TEAM USA will hold Defender Trials to strengthen its bid to defend the Cup. Jimmy Spithill, the skipper of ORACLE TEAM USA when it won the Cup in 2010, will helm one of the boats, while Ben Ainslie, multiple Olympic Gold Medalist from the UK will helm the other. They will go head to head on the same racetrack and on the same days as the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers.

http://www.americascup.com/en/Latest/News/2012/8/2013-Americas-Cup-program-includes-55-days-of-racing/

A way to curb this rumored lawsuit that Clean mentioned earlier? Get more boats on the water racing to appease the TV folk? Seems shaddy regardless.

And I guess Mr. Pierre's at Vsails rumor that Peyron and friends will be taking over the KOR team has legs?

WetHog

[SW Sailor]

Possibly a means to stuff Kithcart unless he happens to have an AC72 in his garage.

[sunseeker]

^ since it always has been called "Defender Trials" what is your attempted point?

If the yak is about the fact we have only one team trying to Defend this time, well duh! No news there either.

The biggy to me in that announcement is the suggestion that JS and crew may not get the nod come ACSF R1. It will be a fierce series, possibly even better than among the Challs.

Actually NYYC used to call them observation trials. Guys in straw hats red pants and blue blazers sucking down gin and tonics watching the racing and then just deciding who the defender would be. Guys like the big loom. Worked for them for a long time too. Damn good cocktails too. The Fransworth elders even used to come in from the coast.

[Rennmaus]

New?
An interview with RC and JS, in German: http://www.skippers....-spectaculaire/
GTrans-Link: http://translate.goo...pectaculaire%2F
(Disclaimer: Usually an automated German->Englich translation is obnoxious.)