Did Dogzilla ever practice starts??

[Go Left]

Got into a bit of a bar discussion about the DZ/CZ starts and have a clear memory that Jimmy Spihill once said that BMWO had never actually practiced a match race start or even sailed an AC race course before the gun for Race 1 in Valencia.

I"ve found an interview where he says they had never run a full course simulation prior to Race 1, but I can't find the comment about not having practiced starts.

A little help will keep the bar tab full.

Thanks!

 

[bcopper]

Don't think they ever did - focus was on straight line speed from everything I've been told.

 

[~Stingray~~]

In the R1 start that ended in a dialup there was a gust that hit DZ at the absolutely perfect moment, right as they entered the box. It led to them taking aggressive advantage over CZ; which in hindsight turned out to be pretty scary!

Wind Gods is a great title for the coming docu-drama.

 

[maxmini]

When you can enter the start box in your first race like this, who needs practice ? The little girl you could hear acroos the water sreaming was actually Ernie

 

[~Stingray~~]

Look at the gust on the water at :20 of this guy's video

 

[bcopper]

When you can enter the start box in your first race like this, who needs practice ? The little girl you could hear acroos the water sreaming was actually Ernie

The best part about this start actually took place before hand on the stage, the coin toss.

The Alinghi rep was told to call heads or tails, to which he replied "starboard". When asked again to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard". When told for a third time he needed to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard".

Frustrated, the official tossed the coin in the air and asked Marcus what he wanted. He said "heads" which was the right call and got JS the starboard advantage. I knew at that point these guys were really on their game :lol:

 

[mr surly]

^thats hilarious, hope its in the movie.

 

[DA-WOODY]

When you can enter the start box in your first race like this, who needs practice ? The little girl you could hear acroos the water sreaming was actually Ernie

The best part about this start actually took place before hand on the stage, the coin toss.

The Alinghi rep was told to call heads or tails, to which he replied "starboard". When asked again to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard". When told for a third time he needed to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard".

Frustrated, the official tossed the coin in the air and asked Marcus what he wanted. He said "heads" which was the right call and got JS the starboard advantage. I knew at that point these guys were really on their game :lol:

Frustrated, the official should have tossed the coin in the air and when it landed called "PORT"

 

[~HHN92~]

Don't think they ever did - focus was on straight line speed from everything I've been told.

Seeing how they stuffed it when EB peeled-off, I think not..........................................

 

[southseasbill]

The best part about this start actually took place before hand on the stage, the coin toss.

The Alinghi rep was told to call heads or tails, to which he replied "starboard". When asked again to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard". When told for a third time he needed to call heads or tails, he again replied "starboard".

Frustrated, the official tossed the coin in the air and asked Marcus what he wanted. He said "heads" which was the right call and got JS the starboard advantage. I knew at that point these guys were really on their game :lol:

That's really funny. I hadn't heard that story before. A great one to add to any history of the event. Jimmy did mess it up though. Even the penalty wouldn't have been enough to recover the ground lost by getting into irons if 17 didn't have that significant performance advantage. Maybe that does answer the question as to how much practice starts they did.

 

[bcopper]

Don't think they ever did - focus was on straight line speed from everything I've been told.

Seeing how they stuffed it when EB peeled-off, I think not..........................................

Well if your given nickname is "Pitbull" based on your starting tactics and the competing helmsman is EB, how concerned would you be ?

 

[RMac]

They'd have been fine on that dial up save for a winch issue. Think it was an override on the furling line?

Did something similar in a match racing start once, thought to get cute and drop the jib in a dial up, seems the halyards were a bit short with no stopper knots... check your boat when you get on it!

 

[DA-WOODY]

.EB made the Fatal Match Race Blunder after winning the Start

he Failed to keep between DoGZilla and the First Mark

had he sailed DUW it would have been Game Over

But no - he took off on a Mortal heading rather than waiting to see where USA-17 would head

in Spite of the Record and All that followed, only CheeseZITlia has RAKed up the miles

Out Mileage-ing DoGZilla by a WIDE Margin

Hell they went 40 miles on the 20 mile course

Oh ya so I guess CheeseZITlia has too many miles on top of the other issues following

 

[~HHN92~]

Don't think they ever did - focus was on straight line speed from everything I've been told.

Seeing how they stuffed it when EB peeled-off, I think not..........................................

Well if your given nickname is "Pitbull" based on your starting tactics and the competing helmsman is EB, how concerned would you be ?

I hear ya, but, that few minutes after the gun were agonizing when A5 was heading up course and 17 was sorting themselves out and getting going!

I'll never forget that, and then the height and speed 17 had as the meters were dropping like a rock.

 

[Go Left]

Guys, guys, guys*....these reminiscences are all wonderful, especially the heads vs. starboard coin toss story. BUT, they aren't helping with my bar tab. SW Sailor came closest, with what I remember was common knowledge at the time. Same as a friend of mine who was a BMWO boat driver in Anacortes and who never saw starting practice.

But I need it from the horses mouth or I'm going to have to pay up (and eat unnecessary crow 'cause I know I'm right). I recall a Spithill interview - maybe with Gladwell or Montgomery - where he said they never practiced starts or sailed a practice race, but I can't find it.

Anyone?

 

[maxmini]

They'd have been fine on that dial up save for a winch issue. Think it was an override on the furling line?

Did something similar in a match racing start once, thought to get cute and drop the jib in a dial up, seems the halyards were a bit short with no stopper knots... check your boat when you get on it!

I can only imagine the look on your face when that halyard dissapeard . One of those funny moments to relive back at the bar and a lesson learned .

 

[bcopper]

Guys, guys, guys*....these reminiscences are all wonderful, especially the heads vs. starboard coin toss story. BUT, they aren't helping with my bar tab. SW Sailor came closest, with what I remember was common knowledge at the time. Same as a friend of mine who was a BMWO boat driver in Anacortes and who never saw starting practice.

But I need it from the horses mouth or I'm going to have to pay up (and eat unnecessary crow 'cause I know I'm right). I recall a Spithill interview - maybe with Gladwell or Montgomery - where he said they never practiced starts or sailed a practice race, but I can't find it.

Anyone?

Well keep the tab open - I'm sure we'll get there given time but it will have to be second hand information unless an interview is found. The only thing I recall was a statement from JS saying they never did a practice race, I assume that would include a start.

 

[swims4USA]

When you can enter the start box in your first race like this, who needs practice ? The little girl you could hear acroos the water sreaming was actually Ernie

watching the live feed from the committee boat was incredible. after hours of waiting, then all of a sudden -whoosh-, she flew by. still get chills thinking about it (and re-watching it!)

 

[Wandering Geo]

Guys, guys, guys*....these reminiscences are all wonderful, especially the heads vs. starboard coin toss story. BUT, they aren't helping with my bar tab. SW Sailor came closest, with what I remember was common knowledge at the time. Same as a friend of mine who was a BMWO boat driver in Anacortes and who never saw starting practice.

But I need it from the horses mouth or I'm going to have to pay up (and eat unnecessary crow 'cause I know I'm right). I recall a Spithill interview - maybe with Gladwell or Montgomery - where he said they never practiced starts or sailed a practice race, but I can't find it.

Anyone?

Well keep the tab open - I'm sure we'll get there given time but it will have to be second hand information unless an interview is found. The only thing I recall was a statement from JS saying they never did a practice race, I assume that would include a start.

Don't pay up yet!

Have a squiz from about 1:45 at this interview with MrC.



Enjoy!