Team American Magic

[Sailbydate]

Slightly off topic, but...

It seems to me that a decent swell will present challenges for maintaining 100% flight times. Obviously, designers can't do anything about the max depth of foils (fixed by supplied parts and the Rule) so, foils are going to ventilate and lose lift.

When the hull bottoms out, designers need to consider what bottom shape would have the least drag effect in scrubbing off SOG, but at the same time, promotes max floatation. It also seems to me that the current skeg shapes are ideal in this regard - if their volume is calculated right.

But I also liked the cut away aft run, which was very distinctive on Patriot. This must surely have minimised drag? Actually, it's a pity we did not see her more, training in ocean swell.

Will we see this cut away underwater shape again?

 

[Stingray~]

When the hull bottoms out, designers need to consider what bottom shape would have the least drag effect in scrubbing off SOG, but at the same time, promotes max floatation.

And be aerodynamic when flying, creating some compromises between aero and hydro.

It is why I suggested (but it will likely not happen) that hull bottoms might passively 'articulate' when they touch down into swells.

The slam Ineos took yesterday could be indicative of this quandary. The slams are potentially violent at these speeds.

 

[Sailbydate]

And be aerodynamic when flying, creating some compromises between aero and hydro.

It is why I suggested (but it will likely not happen) that hull bottoms might passively 'articulate' when they touch down into swells.

The slam Ineos took yesterday could be indicative of this quandary. The slams are potentially violent at these speeds.

Yes, Stinger. I saw your blue-sky, 'articulating" thinking in that other thread. This image came to mind. It seems to me that 'keeping it rigid' might be a better option for a yacht. ;-)

 

[Mozzy Sails]

Just watching this clip on loop, it's mesmerising:

 

[Stingray~]

Very nice, including for this view of the windshadow

 

[NeedAClew]

What's fun is it doesn't see to matter if Slingsby is there or not.

 

[Brutal]

Still intrigued by this - Why would AM stop sailing Patriot if the Ac40 won't be ready for sailing until early March? Possibilities that I can think of

1) There is a problem with Patriot - seems very unlikely because this was signposted and there were no problems on last sail

2) They don't think they can learn any more from her- whilst they are restricted in what they can test on her (e.g. no new foils, masts etc) they will also be restricted on the Ac40 if they have to revert it to OD. So
a) does that mean they are actually getting 2 AC40s - one of which they can mess around with in LEQ12 config as much as they want?
b) or does it mean they have finished testing systems and now want to concentrate on foils?

3) They are selling it to French? Seems odd to curtail your own development for a few dollars, so would only make sense if combined with 1, 2 or 5 or they were short of money

4) They are not decommissioning it completely, but moving it. Seems unlikely from the words used, and again, why not wait until the Ac40 is ready

5) They need the sailing team to concentrate on sailing the Ac40 in the simulator so they can get effective use when they start

Of those 5 seems the most likely, but still surprising. Any views?

1 - Doubtful. Perhaps they've learned all they can from testing her in this mode and further mods would constitute a "new build", running them afoul of the rules and prevent them from building a brand new boat.
2 - Most likely. Moving on to an AC40/LEQ12 two-boat program to start fine tuning foils, and tactics seems like the next logical step. Their program to date seems to be a logical progression.
3 - Again, doubtful. The Frenchies bought the "design package" from ETNZ and it's not likely that AM would want to hand over the results of all their hard work to a competitor.
4 - Why would they say she's being decommissioned if they plan on sailing her again? It makes no sense. The break in the sailing program could simply be that they need all hands on deck to get their AC40 and presumably LEQ12 ready to sail.
5 - A distinct possibility. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Varan]

Maybe they are relocating.

 

[jaysper]

Yes, Stinger. I saw your blue-sky, 'articulating" thinking in that other thread. This image came to mind. It seems to me that 'keeping it rigid' might be a better option for a yacht. ;-)

View attachment 573688

Yep, a bit more than the front fell off that one.
The real shock of that cup for me was that Australia had to revert to what was the 4th fastest challenger boat (After NZL32, NZL38 and the banana) and yet if put up against the defender boat would probably still have won 5-0 just like TNZ did.
It's unfathomable how so much money could be spent on so many boats for them to all be so equally slow.

 

[Priscilla]

It's unfathomable how so much money could be spent on so many boats…

Which transmogrified into its unfathomable how so much money could be spent on so few yachts.

 

[The Main Man]

There has to be a joke in there about how many fathoms down she ended up!

 

[KnotToday]

What's fun is it doesn't see to matter if Slingsby is there or not.

Doesn’t seem to matter if Hutcho is there either these days.

 

[The_Alchemist]

AM has a new teaser on their Facebook page… “Something wicked this way comes”. New beginning on Feb 15th!

 

[NeedAClew]

Is that the Dom they are replacing Slingsby with while he gets married and honeymoons?

 

[The_Alchemist]

AM expects that their AC40 will be on the water the 3rd week of March.

 

[zillafreak]

What is the earliest date we can expect to see a new AC75 splash from any competitor? Dont recall seeing an "allowed by" date in the protocol (?)

 

[MattFranzek]

No thats Riley Gibbs. AM has been really clear that it’s Riley stepping in for Slingsby when he’s not there.

Is that the Dom they are replacing Slingsby with while he gets married and honeymoons?

 

[Horn Rock]

What is the earliest date we can expect to see a new AC75 splash from any competitor? Dont recall seeing an "allowed by" date in the protocol (?)

Still over a year away.

 

[ChairborneRanger]

What is the earliest date we can expect to see a new AC75 splash from any competitor? Dont recall seeing an "allowed by" date in the protocol (?)

Don't know about new, but I think we will see other legacy AC75's break cover soon.

 

[Stingray~]

Don't know about new, but I think we will see other legacy AC75's break cover soon.

My best guess is that if TF, 'OE?,' sails an AC75 then it will be Alinghi's BoatZero when they move to their two AC40's. Hard to see reasons, besides maybe uptraining bicyclers and those systems, for any other legacy AC75's breaking cover at this stage. Hope we do see it though.

Most comments have suggested the new ones will splash in the March/April '24 timeframe.