From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Bob Fisher:
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=2&Nid=122373&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0
The cause of death of Artemis crewman Andrew Simpson was summarily dismissed by the Deputy Coroner for the County of Dorset, Mr. Richard Middleton, today in a brief hearing of sixteen minutes.
The Coroner, in a prepared statement, from which he read, announced: 'This is a final hearing', leaving the five family members and ten journalists, no doubt that the matter was closed.
In what amounted to a résumé of the evidence of three SFPD officers and Adam May, a member of the Artemis Racing Team who was on board when the accident that led to the death of his teammate occurred, it mostly covered, in painful detail, the timescale and the position of the Swedish AC72 on that fateful day, May 9th last year from 1306 PST when the capsize happened, to 1341 PST when Simpson was pronounced dead.
From this, the Deputy Coroner, announced that the death of Andrew Simpson at 1341 PST on May 9th last year was due 'directly as the result of an human act.' This is the official description of an accident. He followed this by giving the cause of death as: 'blunt trauma with drowning.' He did report that Simpson’s helmet had been crushed, and that continuous attempts at CPR and resuscitation by defibrillator had failed.
read more here
Showing posts with label AC72 catamarans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AC72 catamarans. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Monday, 3 March 2014
34th America's Cup, Part 1 of interview with designer Paul Bieker on his work with Oracle Team USA
From the following interview of Paul Bieker by David Schmidt Sail-World USA Editor:
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=2&Nid=119759&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0
Few people in the sailing world are sharper than Paul Bieker, a soft-spoken Seattle-based naval architect who has spent his career designing a wide variety of sailing vessels, from super-quick I-14s and his one-off line of 'Riptide' racer/cruisers, to America’s Cup yachts.
Bieker is one of the core designers credited with 'super-charging' Oracle Team USA’s 'USA 17' last September, changes that helped the American-flagged international team to successfully pull-off one of sports history’s greatest comebacks to defend the 34th America’s Cup.
Yet pull up a seat on the rail next to Bieker-as I’ve been fortunate enough to do on many occasions aboard our mutual friend’s Riptide 44-and it quickly becomes obvious that Bieker’s horizons extends far beyond racecourse designs.
Take, for example, the day that he brought our crew lunch. Each sandwich was individually wrapped in brown recycled paper and was hand-tied with a bit of hemp twine in an effort to reduce landfill fodder. Or then there’s Bieker’s insistence that his Riptide designs offer their owners a huge amount of value and utility, irrespective of whether the agenda involves racing, savoring 25-knot kite rides or extended cruising. Bieker is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost foil-design experts, and while he wisely tries to dodge the limelight, Oracle Team USA has again tapped Bieker for AC35, this time in the role of lead design engineer.
I recently caught up with Bieker at a local Ballard (our mutual Seattle neighborhood) pub for part one of this two-part interview to get his thoughts on how AC34 was won, his design role for AC35, as well as his thoughts on the future of America’s Cup Racing.
Can you tell me about your work with Oracle Team USA, prior to the start of AC34? What were you designing for them?
It was in the late summer/early fall [of 2012] and I think that Oracle had a sense that their appendage engineering and construction side was not going 100-percent smoothly. My first day down there was the day before they launched the boat, and the day they broke their first foil. So pretty much from then on it was full-on, as you can image.
read more here
Thursday, 23 January 2014
34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Ben Ainslie of Oracle Team USA Parts 1,2 and 3
Links to sailing.org
Having sat down with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill, ISAF Vice-President met with Ben Ainslie (GBR) shortly afterwards.
Ainslie was drafted in to replace John Kostecki mid-way through the 34th America's Cup on-board ORACLE TEAM USA and played a key part in one of the finest sporting comebacks of all time.
part 1
http://www.sailing.org/news/37238.php
part 2
http://www.sailing.org/news/37243.php
part 3
http://www.sailing.org/news/37250.php
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 4 and 5
From the following interview by Gary Jobson of Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA:
http://www.sailing.org/news/37075.php
part 4 of the interview
Gary Jobson
"The first couple campaigns you were in, in the America's Cup didn't go as well as you would have liked. So you must have learned some lessons along the way that helped you out a little bit later, particularly a couple weeks ago."
Jimmy Spithill
"Most definitely. These campaigns are incredible. It's a big people game too. You've got over 100 people working together. It's not a day job. It's an obsession. You're there six days a week usually. For a lot of guys it's almost seven days. Long hours. But it's a passion. You love it and you just can't wait to get up every day. You learn a lot. For me, the best opportunity for learning is usually in a defeat or usually when you go through a hard time. As Gary said, you know, it took me quite a few campaigns before we were able to finally pull off a couple wins. But even the successful campaigns, this past one is a great example, we capsized. We were the first ones to capsize in an AC72. We had a situation right before the competition where we had a couple team members involved in a Jury decision. So quite a lot of distractions. But it is during those hard times, that's usually the ultimate test for a team.
"And now, at the end of it, for instance I look back on the capsize as a real highlight or key moment because of the learning. Not because I've destroyed a $10 million boat but because I got to see how our team reacted in a tough situation. It wouldn't have been such a …I don't think people would have judged us too much if we said oh, if we split up or if it was just too hard or said hey guys this isn't for us. But this team doesn't do that. It's hey, no problem. There's no finger pointing. Let's get together. Let's work hard. Let's solve this. For me personally after the capsize I kept waiting for someone to come up and say something or at least point their finger at me and blame me for something. Someone must be a bit wound up about this? But they didn't. All they kept saying was don't worry, we're going to get you guys out on the water soon. We've got your back. This is fine. I think that's…when you face that as a team, that adversity, you almost get that sort of immortal feeling that hey, bring on the competition because if we can get through those sort of situations, we can take anything else on. It gives you confidence."
read more here
Interview of Jimmy Spithill part 5
http://www.sailing.org/news/37097.php
Gary Jobson
"If you were doing the football, there's always a sport where you compare the Peyton Manning's of today and who did he equate to in the past. So I would take an America's Cup skipper, who would I equate you to in the past? And I have read quite a bit about the America's Cup. Have you heard of the name Charlie Barr?"
Jimmy Spithill
"Yes."
Jobson
"So Charlie Barr was fearless and had very radical boats to sail, particularly with Reliance in 1903. And Nathanael Greene Herreshoff made the boat as radical and threw as much sail area and was the longest boat to sail in the Cup because he knew Charlie Barr was the one guy in the world to handle it. I think you are kind of the Charlie Barr of our era after what you did. Are you contemplating any Olympic campaigns? You haven't done an Olympic program I don't think."
Spithill
"No, didn't really have the opportunity as a kid. It's obviously one thing that is…that our sport is probably one drawback is that it is quite expensive. So it does take some resource to get it out there and that's something I think whether it's yacht clubs or sailing associations, I think that I'm really pushing for hard is to have programs where kids don't have to own a boat. So they can still come in and race. It's cheap. They can get out there even if it's on a weekend or something and learn the sport of sailing and be competitive. And then if they really want it, then they'll get there eventually.
read more here
http://www.sailing.org/news/37075.php
part 4 of the interview
Gary Jobson
"The first couple campaigns you were in, in the America's Cup didn't go as well as you would have liked. So you must have learned some lessons along the way that helped you out a little bit later, particularly a couple weeks ago."
Jimmy Spithill
"Most definitely. These campaigns are incredible. It's a big people game too. You've got over 100 people working together. It's not a day job. It's an obsession. You're there six days a week usually. For a lot of guys it's almost seven days. Long hours. But it's a passion. You love it and you just can't wait to get up every day. You learn a lot. For me, the best opportunity for learning is usually in a defeat or usually when you go through a hard time. As Gary said, you know, it took me quite a few campaigns before we were able to finally pull off a couple wins. But even the successful campaigns, this past one is a great example, we capsized. We were the first ones to capsize in an AC72. We had a situation right before the competition where we had a couple team members involved in a Jury decision. So quite a lot of distractions. But it is during those hard times, that's usually the ultimate test for a team.
"And now, at the end of it, for instance I look back on the capsize as a real highlight or key moment because of the learning. Not because I've destroyed a $10 million boat but because I got to see how our team reacted in a tough situation. It wouldn't have been such a …I don't think people would have judged us too much if we said oh, if we split up or if it was just too hard or said hey guys this isn't for us. But this team doesn't do that. It's hey, no problem. There's no finger pointing. Let's get together. Let's work hard. Let's solve this. For me personally after the capsize I kept waiting for someone to come up and say something or at least point their finger at me and blame me for something. Someone must be a bit wound up about this? But they didn't. All they kept saying was don't worry, we're going to get you guys out on the water soon. We've got your back. This is fine. I think that's…when you face that as a team, that adversity, you almost get that sort of immortal feeling that hey, bring on the competition because if we can get through those sort of situations, we can take anything else on. It gives you confidence."
read more here
Interview of Jimmy Spithill part 5
http://www.sailing.org/news/37097.php
Gary Jobson
"If you were doing the football, there's always a sport where you compare the Peyton Manning's of today and who did he equate to in the past. So I would take an America's Cup skipper, who would I equate you to in the past? And I have read quite a bit about the America's Cup. Have you heard of the name Charlie Barr?"
Jimmy Spithill
"Yes."
Jobson
"So Charlie Barr was fearless and had very radical boats to sail, particularly with Reliance in 1903. And Nathanael Greene Herreshoff made the boat as radical and threw as much sail area and was the longest boat to sail in the Cup because he knew Charlie Barr was the one guy in the world to handle it. I think you are kind of the Charlie Barr of our era after what you did. Are you contemplating any Olympic campaigns? You haven't done an Olympic program I don't think."
Spithill
"No, didn't really have the opportunity as a kid. It's obviously one thing that is…that our sport is probably one drawback is that it is quite expensive. So it does take some resource to get it out there and that's something I think whether it's yacht clubs or sailing associations, I think that I'm really pushing for hard is to have programs where kids don't have to own a boat. So they can still come in and race. It's cheap. They can get out there even if it's on a weekend or something and learn the sport of sailing and be competitive. And then if they really want it, then they'll get there eventually.
read more here
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 3 of 5
ORACLE TEAM USA celebrations
©ACEA
From the following article on sailing.org:
Jobson Meets Spithill
Part 3 of 5
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
Click here for Part 1.
Click here for Part 2.
Part 4 of 5 will be available on the ISAF website on Tuesday 14 January 2014.
Gary Jobson
"So I understand that you took some flying lessons. Did that help you understand wings, foils, aerodynamics?"
Jimmy Spithill
"Definitely. I actually took the flying lessons, got my license when we did the wing on the trimaran. That wing on that trimaran was the biggest wing ever built in the world. Aircraft Aerospace. Everything. 230 feet. Massive. Doesn't fit under the Golden Gate Bridge if we were to sail the boat there. It's a huge bit of kit. I just figured, look the best way to learn about wings is to get a pilot's license. I had a break. I had a couple weeks off at the time and I thought okay down to Australia and I sort of went to this sort of little country air strip and learned with a couple of great guys. We went up and everything. I said I've only got two weeks. We have to go up every day in this little, tiny two seaters Cessna. It was straight away, it was amazing how similar it is to sailing. It's all about lift, drag, balance. A well set up plane is very easy to fly. Just like a boat that is well set up, it's easy to sail. Get your head out of the boat and look around and you're not fighting the boat. The same with the plane.
"It was amazing to see how many people in sailing have their pilot's license. Tom Schnackenberg, Russell Coutts, Larry Ellison. I could go on and on and on. I'm really fascinated by it. The next one on my list is the helicopter. It sort of reminds me of these boats that you've got so many things going on at once. The flying, yes, I love it. It's an amazing thing out there and certainly the technology."
read more here
Sunday, 12 January 2014
34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 2 of 5
From the following interview on sailing.org by Gary Jobson of Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA:
10 January 2014, 03:06 pm
Jobson Meets Spithill
Part 2 of 5
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
If you missed Part 1 then it is available here. Part 3 of 5 will be available on the ISAF website on Monday 13 January 2014.
Gary Jobson
"There were a few theories in the New Zealand press going on. We'll cast that aside for the moment. One of the other changes you made was to bring Ben Ainslie on the boat. In the long history of the America's Cup it is very rare in the actual Cup to change one of the crew, whether you're winning or losing. So what was behind bringing Ben Ainslie in and what difference did that make?"
Jimmy Spithill
"We had amazing depth in our sailing team. We actually had it set up this way on purpose because our campaign was based around trying to sail two AC72s. We don't get to race in the challenger series. Big advantage to the challenger. Always has been. To take on two 72s, we honestly didn't know how often we'd be able to sail one let alone two which is a big undertaking. So we hired the best guys we could.
read more here
Saturday, 11 January 2014
34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 1 of 5
From the following interview posted on the ISAF website:
9 January 2014, 02:53 pm
Jobson Meets Spithill - Part 1
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
Offering a fascinating insight into the 2013 America's Cup, Jobson and Spithill analyse what went down in San Francisco, USA.
Enjoy part 1 of 5… Part 2 will follow on 10 January 2014.
Gary Jobson,
"All of us here love sailing and everybody is a sporting enthusiast and everybody likes an underdog and everybody likes a good contest, and when Jimmy walked into the press room the score was now 8-1, Emirates Team New Zealand had won their eighth race. One more race and it was over for your team. You walked in there and declared, "we can win races, we're not done. This could be the greatest comeback in sailing." And I was sitting there thinking well either you're going to be the next Joe Namath guaranteeing victory in the Super Bowl, or look like Y.A. Tittle in the end zone after losing the championship. You're the next Joe Namath. What was in your head that gave you the confidence to say that we could turn this around?"
Jimmy Spithill,
"I think it's the people around you that give you the confidence. The America's Cup, by no question, is by far the biggest team sport out there. It's huge team size. We're talking over 100 people. Obviously there's the sailors. There's the guys that are on the boat that go out and do the racing. But really you're nothing without all your other team members. The shore teams, what we call the pit crews, the designers, the engineers, the people in the office, the guys cleaning the base. Everyone is just as important as the other person. I think once you get out on the water, for me, it's looking next to the guy standing within the guys, that guy that you face on either side of you and knowing that he'll do anything for you. He is almost like you, in fear of letting your teammates down. It's that sort of dedication. You'll do anything. Whatever it takes for your teammate. And when you get that sort of synergy involved and where your teammates put the team number 1 and themselves #2, then that's the ultimate. That's team sport. When you look around even up to the Navy Seal level, that's something that is consistent in, almost like a family or brotherhood of guys that will just do anything for their teammates. That really is a really rewarding thing when you get that thing. It's hard to put words to it, I'm probably not doing a good job of it, but it's an amazing feeling."
Enjoy part 1 of 5… Part 2 will follow on 10 January 2014.
Gary Jobson,
"All of us here love sailing and everybody is a sporting enthusiast and everybody likes an underdog and everybody likes a good contest, and when Jimmy walked into the press room the score was now 8-1, Emirates Team New Zealand had won their eighth race. One more race and it was over for your team. You walked in there and declared, "we can win races, we're not done. This could be the greatest comeback in sailing." And I was sitting there thinking well either you're going to be the next Joe Namath guaranteeing victory in the Super Bowl, or look like Y.A. Tittle in the end zone after losing the championship. You're the next Joe Namath. What was in your head that gave you the confidence to say that we could turn this around?"
Jimmy Spithill,
"I think it's the people around you that give you the confidence. The America's Cup, by no question, is by far the biggest team sport out there. It's huge team size. We're talking over 100 people. Obviously there's the sailors. There's the guys that are on the boat that go out and do the racing. But really you're nothing without all your other team members. The shore teams, what we call the pit crews, the designers, the engineers, the people in the office, the guys cleaning the base. Everyone is just as important as the other person. I think once you get out on the water, for me, it's looking next to the guy standing within the guys, that guy that you face on either side of you and knowing that he'll do anything for you. He is almost like you, in fear of letting your teammates down. It's that sort of dedication. You'll do anything. Whatever it takes for your teammate. And when you get that sort of synergy involved and where your teammates put the team number 1 and themselves #2, then that's the ultimate. That's team sport. When you look around even up to the Navy Seal level, that's something that is consistent in, almost like a family or brotherhood of guys that will just do anything for their teammates. That really is a really rewarding thing when you get that thing. It's hard to put words to it, I'm probably not doing a good job of it, but it's an amazing feeling."
read more here
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
34th America's Cup, new book "Winging it" by Diane Swintal, R. Steven Tsuchiya and Robert Kamins
From the following article:
http://www.wingingitbook.com/
Winging It: ORACLE TEAM USA’s Incredible Comeback to Win the America’s Cup (McGraw-Hill Professional/International Marine, 224 pages with 37 b/w photos, 12 charts and illustrations)
The book is now available at online sellers and in bookstores. More information on availability
One of the Greatest Comebacks in Sports
Millions of sailing enthusiasts and casual fans alike watched the 2013 America’s Cup in awe as ORACLE TEAM USA, trailing one point to New Zealand’s eight and on the brink of losing the trophy to the Challenger, came back to win eight straight match-point races to successfully defend the most famous trophy in sailing.
The 2013 America’s Cup was raced in 72-foot wingsailed catamarans at speeds of 40-50 miles per hour in San Francisco Bay. Designed and engineered by each team, these multihulls were unprecedented, using hydrofoils to race in close quarters around an inshore course, watched by tens of thousands of spectators.
http://www.wingingitbook.com/
Winging It: ORACLE TEAM USA’s Incredible Comeback to Win the America’s Cup (McGraw-Hill Professional/International Marine, 224 pages with 37 b/w photos, 12 charts and illustrations)
The book is now available at online sellers and in bookstores. More information on availability
One of the Greatest Comebacks in Sports
Millions of sailing enthusiasts and casual fans alike watched the 2013 America’s Cup in awe as ORACLE TEAM USA, trailing one point to New Zealand’s eight and on the brink of losing the trophy to the Challenger, came back to win eight straight match-point races to successfully defend the most famous trophy in sailing.
The 2013 America’s Cup was raced in 72-foot wingsailed catamarans at speeds of 40-50 miles per hour in San Francisco Bay. Designed and engineered by each team, these multihulls were unprecedented, using hydrofoils to race in close quarters around an inshore course, watched by tens of thousands of spectators.
Friday, 29 November 2013
34th America's Cup, Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA in New Zealand
From the following article in the New Zealand Herald thanks to livesaildie for the link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11164583
Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill says it would be "inconceivable" to have an America's Cup without Team New Zealand in it.
Spithill, who is in New Zealand on holiday, told TVNZ's Breakfast programme this morning he couldn't imagine the America's Cup without the Kiwis.
"It's inconceivable to think of the America's Cup without Team New Zealand. They're one of the best teams in the world and have been so successful. Not just for sailing but they really have led boat building ... the level it's at now is up there with aerospace and a lot of those people come from the Southern Hemisphere."
Spithill said he had not encountered any animosity during his trip to New Zealand so far, despite having broken so many Kiwis' hearts.
"I think it's surprising to see how serious it is for some fans, especially in the heat of battle," he said.
read more here
There is a video of a tvnz interview as well:
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/jimmy-spithill-america-s-cup-win-video-5734725
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11164583
Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill says it would be "inconceivable" to have an America's Cup without Team New Zealand in it.
Spithill, who is in New Zealand on holiday, told TVNZ's Breakfast programme this morning he couldn't imagine the America's Cup without the Kiwis.
"It's inconceivable to think of the America's Cup without Team New Zealand. They're one of the best teams in the world and have been so successful. Not just for sailing but they really have led boat building ... the level it's at now is up there with aerospace and a lot of those people come from the Southern Hemisphere."
Spithill said he had not encountered any animosity during his trip to New Zealand so far, despite having broken so many Kiwis' hearts.
"I think it's surprising to see how serious it is for some fans, especially in the heat of battle," he said.
read more here
There is a video of a tvnz interview as well:
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/jimmy-spithill-america-s-cup-win-video-5734725
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
34th America's Cup, blog entry on cupexperience with schematics and description of Oracle Team USA's AC72 hydraulic lifting daggerboard adjustment system
From the following blog entry on the excellent cupexperience blog:
http://www.cupexperience.com/blog/2013/11/ac72-foil-control-system
Some people have questioned whether Oracle Team USA had a secret (and illegal) foil control system in their AC72 that helped them defend the America's Cup.
OTUSA has released drawings and photos of their system, which used a simple "mechanical feedback" loop to allow precise control of the daggerboard rake. Helmsman Jimmy Spithill had buttons on the wheel to rake the daggerboard fore and aft in precise increments of 0.5° giving him better control over lift for hydrofoiling.
read more here
http://www.cupexperience.com/blog/2013/11/ac72-foil-control-system
Some people have questioned whether Oracle Team USA had a secret (and illegal) foil control system in their AC72 that helped them defend the America's Cup.
OTUSA has released drawings and photos of their system, which used a simple "mechanical feedback" loop to allow precise control of the daggerboard rake. Helmsman Jimmy Spithill had buttons on the wheel to rake the daggerboard fore and aft in precise increments of 0.5° giving him better control over lift for hydrofoiling.
read more here
Monday, 25 November 2013
35th America's Cup, part 3 of interview with Tom Slingsby of Team Oracle USA
From the following interview on Sail-World by Rob Kothe:
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Tom-Slingsby---Americas-Cup-at-the-Extremes-and-Olympics-(Part-III)/117012
This is part three of the three part Sail-World interview with Tom Slingsby, Olympic Gold Medallist and Oracle Team USA 34th AC strategist who is returning to the Oracle Team for AC35.
‘Foiling made the 34th Cup the spectacle it was but it was pretty extreme racing.
‘On the AC72’s we could only adjust the main foil. We couldn’t adjust the rudder foil. I think if we could adjust the rudder foil, obviously not computer automated but if you could adjust the angle of a tack of a rudder foil you would have better foiling upwind and it would make it a lot safer also.
If the wind picked up 10 knots in a race you wouldn’t be stuck with the max lift setting and it wouldn’t be anywhere near as dangerous. You adjust it and get to your 20 knot setting and not your 10 knots setting and the boat would sail a lot safer.
‘I hope you are allowed to adjust the rudder angle and then all of a sudden the performance of the boats will go through the roof just with that one adjustment to the rule.
read more here
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Tom-Slingsby---Americas-Cup-at-the-Extremes-and-Olympics-(Part-III)/117012
This is part three of the three part Sail-World interview with Tom Slingsby, Olympic Gold Medallist and Oracle Team USA 34th AC strategist who is returning to the Oracle Team for AC35.
‘Foiling made the 34th Cup the spectacle it was but it was pretty extreme racing.
‘On the AC72’s we could only adjust the main foil. We couldn’t adjust the rudder foil. I think if we could adjust the rudder foil, obviously not computer automated but if you could adjust the angle of a tack of a rudder foil you would have better foiling upwind and it would make it a lot safer also.
If the wind picked up 10 knots in a race you wouldn’t be stuck with the max lift setting and it wouldn’t be anywhere near as dangerous. You adjust it and get to your 20 knot setting and not your 10 knots setting and the boat would sail a lot safer.
‘I hope you are allowed to adjust the rudder angle and then all of a sudden the performance of the boats will go through the roof just with that one adjustment to the rule.
read more here
 |
| 'Oracle Team USA foiling - 34th America’s Cup' Chuck Lantz © |
Friday, 22 November 2013
America's Cup update, Sail-World Interview with Tom Slingsby of Team Oracle on the 34th America's Cup and the future 35th America's Cup
The following articles have been published on Sail-World part 3 is yet to be published.
Part 1
On the 34th America's Cup
http://www.sail-world.com/go_link.cfm?srcid=15&nid=116887&link=http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=116823
Part 2
On the 35th America's Cup
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=116887&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0
Part 1
On the 34th America's Cup
http://www.sail-world.com/go_link.cfm?srcid=15&nid=116887&link=http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=116823
Part 2
On the 35th America's Cup
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=116887&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0
Monday, 21 October 2013
America's Cup update, Emirates Team New Zealand surprised by strength of support after unsuccessful 34th America's Cup challenge
From the following nzherald.co.nz article by Paul Lewis:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11143157
In a strange way, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison and archrival and Oracle Team USA chief executive Sir Russell Coutts have played key roles in the reviving fortunes of Emirates Team New Zealand.
The syndicate's skipper, Dean Barker, says he, boss Grant Dalton and most other ETNZ people thought they were "done" as a team after OTUSA pulled off that spectacular, gutting comeback to defend the America's Cup.
Ironically, says Barker, the "amazing" support in New Zealand for a beaten team at least partly came about because of Ellison's and Coutts' much maligned vision of 'a summer of sailing' in the compelling AC72 catamarans. The well-publicised capsizes, the death of Andrew Simpson, the much-criticised danger and on-the-edge nature of the boats (with Dalton doing some of the most vociferous criticising) saw only three challengers turn up and, of them, only ETNZ were able to foot it with Oracle.
read more here
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11143157
In a strange way, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison and archrival and Oracle Team USA chief executive Sir Russell Coutts have played key roles in the reviving fortunes of Emirates Team New Zealand.
The syndicate's skipper, Dean Barker, says he, boss Grant Dalton and most other ETNZ people thought they were "done" as a team after OTUSA pulled off that spectacular, gutting comeback to defend the America's Cup.
Ironically, says Barker, the "amazing" support in New Zealand for a beaten team at least partly came about because of Ellison's and Coutts' much maligned vision of 'a summer of sailing' in the compelling AC72 catamarans. The well-publicised capsizes, the death of Andrew Simpson, the much-criticised danger and on-the-edge nature of the boats (with Dalton doing some of the most vociferous criticising) saw only three challengers turn up and, of them, only ETNZ were able to foot it with Oracle.
read more here
Saturday, 19 October 2013
34th America's Cup, Cup experience blog compiles links to videos of all 19 races
Thanks to John Cadwallader for this link. Cup experience have compiled a post with links to the videos and notes on all of the 19 races in the 34th America's Cup.
http://www.cupexperience.com/blog/2013/10/videos-of-all-19-americas-cup-races
http://www.cupexperience.com/blog/2013/10/videos-of-all-19-americas-cup-races
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
34th America's Cup, Yachting World article on what was changed on Team Oracle USA's AC72 catamaran to boost performance
From the following article on Yachting World:
http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/matthew-sheahan/535348/america-s-cup-what-was-changed-on-oracle#YsHlt3Zm1c8uiLxU.01
Having remained in San Francisco for a few days after the end of the event, I got to speak to a number of people about what was really going on. It didn't take long for the real picture of what was behind the speed improvements to emerge.
Oracle's jump in performance half way through the America's Cup is still the subject of hot debate, particularly among the New Zealand press who are convinced that the black cat had some special device that allowed them to foil more effectively. Was the ‘Herbie', as it became nicknamed, legal? Would Team New Zealand take legal action?
The speculation should have been brought to a halt after team boss Grant Dalton confirmed on Saturday that the team would not be taking legal action over the alleged device. But the chatter still goes on.
Read more at http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/matthew-sheahan/535348/america-s-cup-what-was-changed-on-oracle#DipgiVHciyumVLLB.99
http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/matthew-sheahan/535348/america-s-cup-what-was-changed-on-oracle#YsHlt3Zm1c8uiLxU.01
Having remained in San Francisco for a few days after the end of the event, I got to speak to a number of people about what was really going on. It didn't take long for the real picture of what was behind the speed improvements to emerge.
Oracle's jump in performance half way through the America's Cup is still the subject of hot debate, particularly among the New Zealand press who are convinced that the black cat had some special device that allowed them to foil more effectively. Was the ‘Herbie', as it became nicknamed, legal? Would Team New Zealand take legal action?
The speculation should have been brought to a halt after team boss Grant Dalton confirmed on Saturday that the team would not be taking legal action over the alleged device. But the chatter still goes on.
Read more at http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/matthew-sheahan/535348/america-s-cup-what-was-changed-on-oracle#DipgiVHciyumVLLB.99
34th America's Cup, Iain Percy and Ben Ainslie reflect on the tragic loss of Andrew "Bart" Simpson and the future
From the following article on sportsvibe.co.uk
http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/articles/sailing-and-on-water/exclusive-for-ainslie-and-me-bart-s-death-is-bigger-than-an-amazing-america-s-cup-says-iain-percy-28361/
Iain Percy has revealed that while Team Oracle USA celebrated their historic America’s Cup win on Wednesday night in San Francisco the man who played such a huge part in turning near certain defeat into victory only had thoughts for the late Andrew “Bart” Simpson, his great friend and fellow British Olympic sailor.
Sir Ben Ainslie could have enjoyed the moment he had dreamt of all his life, being a major player in a successful America’s Cup project, but while the drinks were flying and backs understandably slapped after “Team Oracle USA” had come back from a supposedly unassailable 8-1 down to beat “Emirates New Zealand” 9-8, Ainslie sat with Percy to honour their lost friend.
Simpson lost his life when Percy’s “Artemis” boat capsized in San Francisco Bay during training on May 9th, a freak accident that left both Percy and Ainslie considering their futures in sport. Both continued, with Percy now team Manager of Artemis as they look ahead to the next America’s Cup, and Ainslie the hero of the sailing world, but Simpson is clearly never far from their thoughts.
read more here
http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/articles/sailing-and-on-water/exclusive-for-ainslie-and-me-bart-s-death-is-bigger-than-an-amazing-america-s-cup-says-iain-percy-28361/
Iain Percy has revealed that while Team Oracle USA celebrated their historic America’s Cup win on Wednesday night in San Francisco the man who played such a huge part in turning near certain defeat into victory only had thoughts for the late Andrew “Bart” Simpson, his great friend and fellow British Olympic sailor.
Sir Ben Ainslie could have enjoyed the moment he had dreamt of all his life, being a major player in a successful America’s Cup project, but while the drinks were flying and backs understandably slapped after “Team Oracle USA” had come back from a supposedly unassailable 8-1 down to beat “Emirates New Zealand” 9-8, Ainslie sat with Percy to honour their lost friend.
Simpson lost his life when Percy’s “Artemis” boat capsized in San Francisco Bay during training on May 9th, a freak accident that left both Percy and Ainslie considering their futures in sport. Both continued, with Percy now team Manager of Artemis as they look ahead to the next America’s Cup, and Ainslie the hero of the sailing world, but Simpson is clearly never far from their thoughts.
read more here
Friday, 27 September 2013
Thursday, 26 September 2013
America's Cup final, Oracle Team USA stage amazing comeback and retain the America's Cup
Oracle Team USA today retained the America's Cup with a thrilling come from behind victory in the final do or die deciding race in San Francisco.
In the end their upwind foiling technique was once again what made the difference, enabling them to power past the Kiwis upwind and turn a three second deficit at the leeward gate into a 26 second lead at the end of the beat and a 44 second winning margin at the finish.
ETNZ had grabbed the early advantage off the start to hold the controlling inside berth at the first turing mark and lead for the entire downwind leg. Oracle survived a huge nosedive just before the turn but remarkably were quickly up and running again.
By the start of the second half of the run they .were hot on the Kiwis heels again - less than a boat length directly behind at times - and when the teams split at the leeward gate there was just three seconds between them.
read more here
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)