33rd America's Cup

[trysail]

33rd America's Cup Series

The first race of this best-of-three series conclusively demonstrated that BMW-Oracle has the faster boat— at least in light air. There's good reason to think The America's Cup will return to the U.S. in very short order. Anything can happen, of course, but life is a thousand times easier if you've got the faster boat ( see the report below on the first race of the series ).

This is amazing stuff. The high aspect rigid wing ( it really is an airfoil ) that serves as the vessel's "mainsail" is enormous ( 223 feet high ). According to reports, the foil is more than twice the size of a Boeing 747 wing. The vessel's been clocked at 28 knots and sails so fast that the apparent wind doesn't much change.

A trimaran, the vessel sails on one hull in what appears to be a precarious balance. Massive real-time computing enables her to be sailed on the razor edge of control.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/USA-17-flying-cropped.jpg



Ellison’s BMW-Oracle Takes 1-0 Lead in America’s Cup
By Alex Duff

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. challenger BMW-Oracle took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd America’s Cup after its 68-meter (223-foot) motorized carbon fiber wing helped it outpace Alinghi.

The USA-17 trimaran was quickest over the 40-mile course off Valencia, Spain, after sailing as fast as 25 knots (28.8 miles-per-hour) on the downwind section. The challenger made up an almost 1 minute, 30 second gap behind the Swiss boat at the start to win by more than 15 minutes.

BMW-Oracle, owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, is a win away from returning sailing’s oldest and most prestigious prize to the U.S. after 15 years abroad. The winning margin today was bigger than in any of the races in the last edition, including the qualifying series.

“The wing sail looks like an absolute gem, it has less drag,” Peter Lester, a former America’s Cup tactician, said in a broadcast from the U.S. team’s base. “As long as BMW-Oracle can keep the boat in one piece they are in a completely dominant position.”

The best-of-three regatta follows 30 months of legal dispute over rules between Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli, whose Swiss team won in 2003 and 2007. The opening race was also delayed four days by variable weather.

Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Officer Ellison jumped off USA-17 into a speed boat before racing began. His 138-meter “Rising Sun” boat and Bertarelli’s 46-meter “Vava” were among the spectator fleet at the start.

Penalty Turn
Alinghi, steered by Bertarelli, was penalized for blocking Oracle before the start. It had to do a penalty turn, which it did just before the finish line.

The Swiss boat jumped out to a 600-meter lead when the U.S. challenger skippered by James Spithill was caught on the wrong side of the line as the race began.

USA-17 reeled in Alinghi quickly. BMW-Oracle followed an Alinghi tack to make sure of its advantage and led by 3 minutes, 21 seconds at the halfway stage.

In a breeze of about five knots, the American boat sped further into the lead on the downwind section. Spithill was carrying a laptop computer in a backpack that feeds boat data to him via military-style goggles.

The first race was postponed Feb. 8 because of shifting off-shore winds and then again two days later when race director Harold Bennett ruled the sea was too rough. The second race is scheduled for Feb. 14.

The U.S. hasn’t held the America’s Cup since 1995, when Dennis Conner’s Young America lost to New Zealand.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aNt5YdmJKanY

 

[rbijon]

33rd America's Cup Series

The first race of this best-of-three series conclusively demonstrated that BMW-Oracle has the faster boat— at least in light air. There's good reason to think The America's Cup will return to the U.S. in very short order. Anything can happen, of course, but life is a thousand times easier if you've got the faster boat ( see the report below on the first race of the series ).

This is amazing stuff. The high aspect rigid wing ( it really is an airfoil ) that serves as the vessel's "mainsail" is enormous ( 223 feet high ). According to reports, the foil is more than twice the size of a Boeing 747 wing. The vessel's been clocked at 28 knots and sails so fast that the apparent wind doesn't much change.

A trimaran, the vessel sails on one hull in what appears to be a precarious balance. Massive real-time computing enables her to be sailed on the razor edge of control.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/USA-17-flying-cropped.jpg



Ellison’s BMW-Oracle Takes 1-0 Lead in America’s Cup
By Alex Duff

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. challenger BMW-Oracle took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd America’s Cup after its 68-meter (223-foot) motorized carbon fiber wing helped it outpace Alinghi.

The USA-17 trimaran was quickest over the 40-mile course off Valencia, Spain, after sailing as fast as 25 knots (28.8 miles-per-hour) on the downwind section. The challenger made up an almost 1 minute, 30 second gap behind the Swiss boat at the start to win by more than 15 minutes.

BMW-Oracle, owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, is a win away from returning sailing’s oldest and most prestigious prize to the U.S. after 15 years abroad. The winning margin today was bigger than in any of the races in the last edition, including the qualifying series.

“The wing sail looks like an absolute gem, it has less drag,” Peter Lester, a former America’s Cup tactician, said in a broadcast from the U.S. team’s base. “As long as BMW-Oracle can keep the boat in one piece they are in a completely dominant position.”

The best-of-three regatta follows 30 months of legal dispute over rules between Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli, whose Swiss team won in 2003 and 2007. The opening race was also delayed four days by variable weather.

Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Officer Ellison jumped off USA-17 into a speed boat before racing began. His 138-meter “Rising Sun” boat and Bertarelli’s 46-meter “Vava” were among the spectator fleet at the start.

Penalty Turn
Alinghi, steered by Bertarelli, was penalized for blocking Oracle before the start. It had to do a penalty turn, which it did just before the finish line.

The Swiss boat jumped out to a 600-meter lead when the U.S. challenger skippered by James Spithill was caught on the wrong side of the line as the race began.

USA-17 reeled in Alinghi quickly. BMW-Oracle followed an Alinghi tack to make sure of its advantage and led by 3 minutes, 21 seconds at the halfway stage.

In a breeze of about five knots, the American boat sped further into the lead on the downwind section. Spithill was carrying a laptop computer in a backpack that feeds boat data to him via military-style goggles.

The first race was postponed Feb. 8 because of shifting off-shore winds and then again two days later when race director Harold Bennett ruled the sea was too rough. The second race is scheduled for Feb. 14.

The U.S. hasn’t held the America’s Cup since 1995, when Dennis Conner’s Young America lost to New Zealand.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aNt5YdmJKanY

She's a beauty!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

A trimaran in the America's Cup? Odd thought, that. I am amused that after so may years of the old 12 meter class, sponsors wealthy enough to return to the J boats should choose multi-hulls instead.

 

[trysail]

A trimaran in the America's Cup? Odd thought, that. I am amused that after so may years of the old 12 meter class, sponsors wealthy enough to return to the J boats should choose multi-hulls instead.

It's the eternal quest for speed. Multihulls are inherently faster than monohulls because of physics ( hydrodynamics ).

Here are USA-17's specs:
http://bmworacleracing.com/en/yacht/index.html

The technology is amazing. Someone from a mere sixty years ago would not recognize 99% of the materials used in the construction of these vessels ( not to mention the hull designs ). Even that recently, sailboat hulls and spars were built with wood and sails were canvas.

Since then, materials have gone through at least two generations: fiberglass and carbon fiber. Sail materials have progressed through dacron to kevlar and, now, rigid airfoils. Below the waterline, we've seen the replacement of sheer volume ( full keels ) by less and less wetted surface ( fin keels and winged keels to multihulls ).

I don't especially like to see competition that sometimes seems to end up being determined solely by the amount of money that can be brought to bear but it is an undeniable fact that the no-holds-barred events such as The America's Cup have produced technological advances that have benefited everyone. There are plenty of other venues where rules are in place to effectively eliminate the advantage of a bottomless pocketbook.

Yes, the J-boats were ( and are ) amazing. After hearing about them through my adolescence, I'm glad I finally laid eyes on one of 'em. They take your breath away.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-class_yacht
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/J_Class_sail_plan.svg/500px-J_Class_sail_plan.svg.png

 

[JackLuis]

Outstanding Trysail.

For once your outsized post is worth it.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Should anyone want to weep for the beauty of the old J Class, this organization has an image bank beyond price. And if you have a very large price, you can charter--Endeavor!

http://www.jclass.com

 

[trysail]

Should anyone want to weep for the beauty of the old J Class, this organization has an image bank beyond price. And if you have a very large price, you can charter--Endeavor!

http://www.jclass.com

That's interesting. There are a fair number of 12 meter boats in private hands.

Here's a synopsis of the upwind leg of the 1st race provided by BMW-Oracle:

12.02.2010 CET
'USA' leads around the top mark. BMW ORACLE Racing is off to a good start in Race One of the 33rd America's Cup Match. Surprisingly, there was a dial-up at the start, with USA skipper James Spithill (AUS) on starboard tack, forcing Alinghi - the give way boat - to take evasive action. But the Umpires judged A5 [ Alinghi ] didn't keep clear and penalised Alinghi.

However, the Swiss defender made a nice recovery to lead across the starting line. BMW ORACLE Racing was late and started over 600-meters behind Alinghi.

But then, a raw display of power - USA was simply able to sail faster and higher. The leader was quickly reeled in and BMW ORACLE Racing made the pass.

The American challenger leads by 3:21 minutes around the top mark.

"A raw display of power" is right. USA went on to extend her lead to well over 10 minutes on the downwind leg of the 40-mile windward/downwind course. There's little doubt the U.S. boat is much, much faster in light air.

The second race of the best-of-three series is scheduled for today ( 14 February ). The boats are on the water in Valencia and a start could take place shortly. After a 15-year hiatus, it is possible that The America's Cup will be back in American hands by this evening.

http://bmworacleracing.com/en/yacht/index.html

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That's interesting. There are a fair number of 12 meter boats in private hands.

Here's a synopsis of the upwind leg of the 1st race provided by BMW-Oracle:


"A raw display of power" is right. USA went on to extend her lead to well over 10 minutes on the downwind leg of the 40-mile windward/downwind course. There's little doubt the U.S. boat is much, much faster in light air.

The second race of the best-of-three series is scheduled for today ( 14 February ). The boats are on the water in Valencia and a start could take place shortly. After a 15-year hiatus, it is possible that The America's Cup will be back in American hands by this evening.

http://bmworacleracing.com/en/yacht/index.html

And it's about damned time! I got to see the cup a couple of times when it was in the San Diego Yacht Club, my late step-father-in-law being a very active member at the time. It's a rather impressive chunk of Victorian silver, I tell you.

 

[cloudy]

My brother crewed in the cup one year - forget which year and which ship. Just goes to show how interested I am in it.

He does tell some interesting stories about it, though.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

My brother crewed in the cup one year - forget which year and which ship. Just goes to show how interested I am in it.

He does tell some interesting stories about it, though.

I would imagine so! Is that the brother who came up with the 'killer app'?

 

[cloudy]

I would imagine so! Is that the brother who came up with the 'killer app'?

Yep, the same one.

 

[trysail]

They're racing now. USA is walking away on the second leg. Their lead is now up to 1,100 meters. It is incredible stuff. They're doing 28+ knots ( ~33 mph ) which is so fast the damn chase boats are having trouble keeping up. Crew laid out on the windward hull are 40' above the water— you definitely do not want to go overboard at that height and speed.

Streaming video:
http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/...en/frame/overview/top_yacht.4ml&track.type=hn

 

[trysail]

USA is running away. They extended their lead up to 2,000 meters and 2 minutes 44 seconds at the end of the second leg. Rounding the mark, it's obvious that USA is throttling back in order to minimize the possibility of equipment failure on this the 3rd and last leg. As long as nothing goes wrong, a win should be in the bag. Alinghi is flying a protest flag.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Snicker. They're protesting that USA is too fast?

 

[trysail]

Snicker. They're protesting that USA is too fast?

The race is over. USA won easily. The Cup belongs to the U.S. The Swiss ( god bless 'em for their sportsmanship ) didn't pursue the protest. I think they put up the protest flag simply to protect their potential rights had the thing turned out to be close. It wasn't. I don't know why they thought they might have a case; they were clearly way over the start line prior to the start. Perhaps there's another explanation that'll be revealed after they get off the water.

USA was apparently clocked at 33 knots at one point. The ability to sail faster than the wind is— well— amazing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_faster_than_the_wind

For those unfamiliar with knots, a nautical mile is 6,076 feet making a knot equal to roughly 1.15 mph.


Speed

1 knot= 1.15 mph
2 knots= 2.30 "
3 " = 3.45 "
4 " = 4.60 "
5 " = 5.75 "
6 knots = 6.90 mph
7 " = 8.06 "
8 " = 9.21 "
9 " = 10.36 "
10 " = 11.51 "
11 knots = 12.66 mph
12 " = 13.81 "
13 " = 14.96 "
14 " = 16.11 "
15 " = 17.26 "
16 knots = 18.41 mph
17 " = 19.56 "
18 " = 20.71 "
19 " = 21.86 "
20 " = 23.02 "
21 knots = 24.17 mph
22 " = 25.32 "
23 " = 26.47 "
24 " = 27.62 "
25 " = 28.77 "
26 knots = 29.92 mph
27 " = 31.07 "
28 " = 32.22 "
29 " = 33.37 "
30 " = 34.52 "
31 knots = 35.67 mph
32 " = 36.82 "
33 " = 37.98 "
34 " = 39.13 "
35 " = 40.28 "

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Trysail,
Have you ever come across an old book entitled The Forty-Knot Sailboat? The author proposed a three point hydrofoil powered by a gigantic airfoil, rather along the lines of the USA's 'wing'. It was written back in the '60's by Bernard Smith, an engineer based out of the Naval Weapons Station at China Lake. He never built one that I am aware of but the math was impressive.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/40kt.jpg

 

[trysail]

Trysail,
Have you ever come across an old book entitled The Forty-Knot Sailboat? The author proposed a three point hydrofoil powered by a gigantic airfoil, rather along the lines of the USA's 'wing'. It was written back in the '60's by Bernard Smith, an engineer based out of the Naval Weapons Station at China Lake. He never built one that I am aware of but the math was impressive.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/40kt.jpg

I've never run across the book. Interesting! Where'd you scarf up an image of the dust jacket?

When you get right down to it, sailing is 100% governed by physics. These days, it's the people with the deepest pocket and the largest computing power who are likely to prevail. Obviously, humans still play a role in execution. I wouldn't want to be the bowman who blew a genniker set on Ellison's boat— but these guys are all professionals nowadays.

The idea of a rigid "wing sail" has been around far longer than most people are aware. It dates back to the '60s. USA's rigid sail is nothing more than the culmination of knowledge that a sail really is nothing more than an airfoil. "Soft sails" are bound to be comparatively inefficient because of their flexibility.

At one point during the energy crisis of the late '70s and early '80s, there were naval architects who toyed with the idea of powering large commercial vessels with airfoils.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I've never run across the book. Interesting! Where'd you scarf up an image of the dust jacket?

When you get right down to it, sailing is 100% governed by physics. These days, it's the people with the deepest pocket and the largest computing power who are likely to prevail. Obviously, humans still play a role in execution. I wouldn't want to be the bowman who blew a genniker set on Ellison's boat— but these guys are all professionals nowadays.

The idea of a rigid "wing sail" has been around far longer than most people are aware. It dates back to the '60s. USA's rigid sail is nothing more than the culmination of knowledge that a sail really is nothing more than an airfoil. "Soft sails" are bound to be comparatively inefficient because of their flexibility.

At one point during the energy crisis of the late '70s and early '80s, there were naval architects who toyed with the idea of powering large commercial vessels with airfoils.

A Site called the International Hydrofoil Society.

www.foils.org

I used to have a copy of my own but can't locate it. I probably donated it to some library or something as there was zero chance of my ever making use of the idea. Smith was suggesting that an 'aerohydrofoil' might have a lot of use in warfare. It would be silent to subs, invisible on radar and very, very fast.

 

[oggbashan]

I used to have shares in a company called Walker Wingsail that produced yachts with aerofoil sails. They went into liquidation but their sails are still being produced by a newly-formed company.

When I was young I used to go to Pin Mill in Suffolk. There, lying in a mud berth, was the remains of a J-class yacht. Even as a derelict, the hull's lines were impressive.

Og

 

[trysail]

I used to have shares in a company called Walker Wingsail that produced yachts with aerofoil sails. They went into liquidation but their sails are still being produced by a newly-formed company.

When I was young I used to go to Pin Mill in Suffolk. There, lying in a mud berth, was the remains of a J-class yacht. Even as a derelict, the hull's lines were impressive.

Og

Og,
That's an interesting site. I'd be lying if I didn't say I found it a reminder of how risky commercial ventures are. The old saw in the venture capital business is, "Figure out how much money you'll need— then double or treble it."

I do wonder how long it'll be before we see rigid airfoils appear on "production" or one-off recreational vessels. Wing keels began to be seen fairly quickly after Australia II's 1983 capture of The ( America's ) Cup.

 

[trysail]

The explanation of Alinghi's subsequently withdrawn protest:

Brad Butterworth, team skipper and tactician:

“We were a bit disappointed the whole thing is over in two races, but you have to hand it to Oracle. What they wound up with is like a plane, not a boat. So they deserve to beat us. They went very fast and sailed well. Give all credit to them.”

On the pre-start penalty: “We had a little problem; the start line was difficult to get to at our end. There were a lot of boats near the port end and we had to gybe around and were late to the starboard end. And that was full of boats too. We were a couple of seconds late and got a penalty, but that wasn’t going to decide the race.”

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Og,
That's an interesting site. I'd be lying if I didn't say I found it a reminder of how risky commercial ventures are. The old saw in the venture capital business is, "Figure out how much money you'll need— then double or treble it."

I do wonder how long it'll be before we see rigid airfoils appear on "production" or one-off recreational vessels. Wing keels began to be seen fairly quickly after Australia II's 1983 capture of The ( America's ) Cup.

I was interested in the reference to the 'upcoming' Windrocket. It looked just like the sort of thing that a thrill-seeking weekend sailor might like. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any website for them, just comments and reviews by others. It looks like another good idea that hasn't found a home. Drat!

 

[oggbashan]

Og,
That's an interesting site. I'd be lying if I didn't say I found it a reminder of how risky commercial ventures are. The old saw in the venture capital business is, "Figure out how much money you'll need— then double or treble it."

I do wonder how long it'll be before we see rigid airfoils appear on "production" or one-off recreational vessels. Wing keels began to be seen fairly quickly after Australia II's 1983 capture of The ( America's ) Cup.

It was interesting enough for me to invest (and lose) money in it. The loss was tax-deductible. I used to have a sales video for the Zephyr but the tape broke. It could sail much closer to the wind than conventionally rigged yachts and it was all controlled from a small joystick.

Og

 

[Tio_Narratore]

The Commodore of the New York club was once asked what would replace the cup were it lost, and he replied, "The head of the Captain who lost her." They never did take his head, but it would be nice to see the cup return...
My time at sea was mostly under power, but I did do one tour on a square-rigger; still regret having left her...

 

[Handley_Page]

OK guys. Perhaps someone would explain how the damned aerofoil sail works? - in slow motion ?.

I have sufficient basics of a wing, but that usually has one side (the top) slightly longer than the other (the better to get lift).

I cannot see how a shape supposedly getting lift on one side can drive the boat faster, unless it is purely for pulling the mast into the direction of travel.