America's Cup boat question

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Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
On the America's Cup boats, on each binnacle there are two wheels, a larger wheel that is obviously for steering and a smaller wheel. Does anyone know what the smaller wheel is for? I've seen the helmsmen occasionally move the smaller wheel but I can't figure what the purpose is, maybe some sort of trim adjustment? Thanks, Manny
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Found this on a web site...

"The twin steering wheels are connected to the rudder and trim tab, a flap on the back of the keel, which control the boats direction." So it trims a tab on the keel. Interesting.
 
C

Clayton

Trim tab on the back of the keel

I'm pretty sure that the internal (smaller) wheel is for a trim tab on the trailing edge of the keel foil. The crew adjusts the small wheel to increase lift to weather via change in angle of the trim tab. Much like flaps on an airplane wing. I'm no expert, but that is my understanding of the inner wheel. Hopefully someone will either back me up or straighten me out. Regards, Clayton
 
Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
Very cool!

Just like an airplane... I'd love to have that on my boat ;d Thanks for clearing up the mystery, Manny
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
The Final Race....

...was one of the most thrilling and closely contested in the cup's history. A penalty turn by NZ-92 at the end gave the race to SU-100 and only the third time in history that the cup had been successfully defended. Butterworth was one of five Kiwi crew members left over from the Team New Zealand team that won back-to-back cups in 1997 and 2000 before abandoning ship for Alinghi in 2003. They celebrated with the rest of the seven nationalities which make up the crew, including the lone Swiss, Bertarelli.
 
mike C16582

mike C16582

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Jul 8, 2004
361
S2 9.1 chelsea ny
let's not forget the helmsman

Although Butterworth or should we say "Butterball"?? (it looks like he eats too many Mrs. Butterworth pancakes) was the "Skipper" the helmsman was American Ed Baird. The BEST race I've EVER seen. Photo finish. I will be watching this race over and over again for years to come.
 
Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
It was a great last race!

Edge of my seat the whole time. It looks like there maybe some spec changes in the future for the boats, saw this article in the NY times. Manny
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,158
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Alan, I don't understand...

wasn't the cup defended successfully by the NY Yacht club for something like 137 years before it went to Australia? Then other succesful defenses were by SD yacht club, the kiwis and now allenghi.
 
S

SailJunkie

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Jun 4, 2004
67
Catalina 310 LaSalle, MI
Manny...

I believe the two wheels are for convenience more than anything else. You could actually move about the cockpit a bit more freely with one smaller wheel. I could be wrong though... Regarding the Americas Cup, I thought the whole thing was fantastic...great race, great coverage by Versus...very exciting all around...
 
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