America's Cup Update

jviss · Sep 25, 2013

RECESS said:
It is not on their listings for 4pm eastern today, so I had to block out two hours of shows on that channel on my DVR today.

What a comeback.

Yea, I called and complained, but I ended up doing a "manual recording" on the DVR.

Brian D · Sep 25, 2013

I just wish NBC hadn't hogged the telecast. It was on Youtube but then blocked. On top of that, I don't have NBCSN on my Cox Cable. So, as a viewer, I was screwed 100%.

So, is all over? Is this what I am understanding?

Stu Jackson · Sep 25, 2013

I was THERE. Look for me when Oracle comes under the Bay Bridge. That's ME.

Stu Jackson · Sep 25, 2013

Proof:

Tymadman · Sep 25, 2013

Nice one Stu. I'm an upset Kiwi BTW :-(

StinkBug · Sep 25, 2013

Anyone complaining about TV coverage needs to head over to youtube. I dont have any TV at all and I've watched every race start to finish, albeit a little delayed. I cant usually sit around watching tv in the middle of the day anyway though, so I just save the races for at night, and try to avoid news about the results til after.

Joe · Sep 25, 2013

The racing was cool, the boats are awesome, the venue spectacular........ we've all been following it for the past weeks. But..... that Todd guy announcing... he was the worst.... please... if you can't add some insight to the action, don't keep repeating the same trite comments every three minutes. Annoying... especially if you are a sailor. Worse than an X games commentator.

klemsaba · Sep 26, 2013

StinkBug said:
Anyone complaining about TV coverage needs to head over to youtube. I dont have any TV at all and I've watched every race start to finish, albeit a little delayed. I cant usually sit around watching tv in the middle of the day anyway though, so I just save the races for at night, and try to avoid news about the results til after.

YouTube was great. But I always new that OTUSA won the first race by the way they titled each broadcast... "Races 17 & 18" doesn't leave much to the imagination on who won race 17 when there are two races. The Americas's Cup Android and iOS app was also a great way to watch the races live!

Stu Jackson · Sep 27, 2013

gunni, I was the C34 with just the jib up as they were coming under the bridge. See http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7756.0.html

capta · Sep 27, 2013

capta said:
I can't help having a sneaking suspicion that the "powers that be", be they the TV people or advertisers, have demanded Barker rein in his team to prolong the races.
It was pretty much like having a much hyped heavyweight prize fight (THE fight of the century!) end half way through the first round.

Well, I guess I owe Mr. Dean Barker an apology. I guess he was doing his best in the last 8 races and there was no pressure to prolong the races.
My apologies, Mr. Barker

jviss · Sep 27, 2013

Gunni said:
The ETNZ recovery from a near capsize in race 8 was some of the best luck I have ever seen!

Fixed it for you.

capta · Sep 27, 2013

captnron said:
Guys,

I have a newfound respect to all of you who sail SF bay. The changing conditions, stronger average winds & ripping tides & seas make even a calm day's sail rather spirited.

You have absolutely no idea! You can sail out of Richardson Bay from Sausalito in 10 knots of wind reaching for the Golden Gate, passing hurricane gulch, where the wind can reach 30 knots or more (a downdraft from the hills), then behind the Marin headland where it falls back to 10 knots or less. Then, as you enter the Golden Gate it will come up to a steady 25 knots with currents that I have personally experienced on a 65' staysail schooner, turning the boat 180 degrees under full sail, leaving us with everything backed.
We would sail to Fisherman's Wharf and tie up to pick up some SF sourdough french bread and Dungeness crab. Heading back out we'd hit the fog that is funneled through the Gate and you couldn't see the foremast from the cockpit. Then out of the fog, around Angel Island in very light winds and back to Richardson Bay or into the fog and wind again. All in the space of several hours.
When I sailed the Bay, Alcatraz was a working prison and if you approached too close, the guards would run down to the water's edge and if you did not turn away immediately, they would stitch your sails with their "Tommy guns"; no joke!
Sometimes in very light air during the midwinter races, the fog would set in and becalmed, we would be pushed towards Alcatraz by the current. The only way we had to judge our distance from the island, in those conditions, was to watch for the bottom and when we saw it, immediately drop anchor and await the tide change or the wind, hoping the guards didn't see us.
Great fun for an indestructible teenager; probably not so much for the captain!
One of my most memorable experiences (and frightening) was in Richardson Bay, rowing a 9' pram with a friend in the fog and having an Orca surface a few feet away, his dorsal fin towering over our heads. I'd bet no Olympic rower had a thing on us that day!
There is a saying that if you can sail the Bay, you can sail anywhere, and so far it has proved to be true for me, in 43 years of sailing all over the world, after leaving the Bay.

Tymadman · Sep 27, 2013

Gunni said:
Stu, was that your Catalina with the navy canvas? I saw a boat full of guys on a Catalina waving as OTUSA passed under the bridge, and thought wow, wish that was me! Lucky dog. Tymadman; I understand upset, but New Zealand was well represented by the team. The ETNZ recovery from a near capsize in race 8 was some of the best boat handling I have ever seen! Can't wait to visit New Zealand and meet the people who raised these boys, all good sports. Well done. Next time eh? He

It's looking like there will be an next time too. The NZ Government is already making noises which suggest they'll support another challenge. I read that Larry Ellison has spent $138 million in NZ since 2001 so that's a good ROI for the $36 million contributed by the Government.

BTW, you don't need to get to NZ to meet Kiwis - we're everywhere

rpwillia · Sep 27, 2013

Awesome Boats and Technology

I was riveted watching a couple of those races, especially 17 with the start. I can't wait to see what technology trickles down to us.

IMHO the comeback is pretty remarkable as ETNZ seemed to be doing everything right. The last race ETNZ could not have done much more except get a faster boat. It will be interesting to find out what Oracle figured out that gave them that much extra speed in the final races.

Update: Was just over at Sailing Anarchy and the rumor is Oracle installed fitted an automatic control to their hydrofoil trim. a device known as “Little Herbie” developed for Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets. This enables higher speed/lower drag foils which the crew would otherwise be unable to manage for a a significant speed advantage when foiling. Interesting. The Cup is over but it keeps on giving.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Sep 28, 2013

Was the device allowed under the Deed?

jibes138 · Sep 28, 2013

it did look like NZ had more wake turbulence than Oracle in the later races. Just wondering in the last race if NZ should have done a better job covering them in match racing mode. They let them split for the upwind leg and never tacked on top of them to mess up their air. Once Oracle got ahead it was all over. Also Barker never pushed them way out to the boundary at the first mark the way Spithill did to him. He should have luffed him and tried to draw a penalty.

Brian D · Sep 28, 2013

The wing design. I was thinking about that on the way home one day. Would that design work on a monohull? Not like it does on the cats, but a split design modified for monohulls. It is interesting how there really are what appear to be two mains. I know that is not the case, but there was the wing and then there was the flap at the end of the wing.

I wonder...

America's Cup Update

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