Hi all a bit of background info.

You may well hear the expression Challenger of Record mentioned during the races.

This goes back to 1983, before then it was just the UK and the USA. It was agreed to include other challengers to agree on a yacht description, not a one design but these are my words, to race the holder of the Americas Cup.

Luis Vuitton put up the money for the Cup and a single Country was the official Challenger (of Record). Other countries could then compete with the C of R and so the winner got the Luis Vuitton Cup and then went on to challenge the holder for the Americas Cup which would be sailed in the holder's nominated water. This time it is Prada who put up the Cup etc.

The last time I saw money mentioned it was said that the race was worth 1 Billion £'s to the local economy and also the exposure of the area attracted visitors as well as a future holiday destination.

As an aside many years ago Australia was just somewhere a long way away. Then the film Crocodile Dundee came out and Oz shot up from number 22 on the holiday destination list to either 1 or 2 can't remember.

This film is the most successful non-Hollywood film ever made and later Paul Hogan had a National Award for the achievement. (He also married the girl and they stayed together for 20 years). Then as he says himself he screwed it all up!

So when asked what's the point in spending 100 M $ on a boat it does bring in lots of money to the countries involved.

Also had you ever heard of INEOS before a very large global company in the chemical industry. Well their name was blazened all over our yacht when it had its time in the sun. The advertising and exposure must be worth all they spent (£110M).

regards

Roy

Hi all, the races just finished were for the Prada Cup which is an elimination race to decide who will challenge the holder New Zealand.

Up until the finals we were doing well but then Italy found another gear and dominated the races not only with a slightly faster boat but also in tactics.

The UK trailed 0 - 5 to Italy and then Sir Ben made a good tactical start and commanded the race so it was 1 - 5. Then The UK were out-manoeuvred once again to lose the next 2 races and so Italy and Luna Rossa won 7 - 1.

All things being equal 6th. March sees the start of the actual mericas Cup between Italy and New Zealand.

Considering how the USA then UK and ending with Italy all had a turn at domineering the racing events I wonder if NZ have been left behind as it seems to come down to tactics 90% at the start and the first time they cross as they head upwind to the first gate.

The trailing boat travelling in dirty air so never seemingly able to make better the difference.

Casual watchers may wonder at the computer graphics giving actual boat speed and then looking below to see a different speed quoted.

The lower speeds are Velocity Made Good or VMG. This is a computer calculation showing how fast they are achieving getting to the next gate.

The sailors will know that speed is one thing but with a destination in sight it is how quickly you are getting there.

One surprising thing with these yachts is the way they can convert a wind speed into 4 or more times that speed as they travel through the water.

Another is how the crews have mastered keeping these boats up on a or both foils all the time and going round corners at 40 50 mph!

Remember these yachts weigh 8 tons and are travelling on foils with maybe 15 square feet actually in the water between the 2 foils to balance on.

I look forward to the AC in March, probably the most exciting ever.

Roy

Hi JB, thanks for clearing that up I was going by commentary after the event. That does show that the yachts are stressed to stand sudden stops.

I agree I would very much like to see the USA up and running, there was a comment from their team that it might not look pretty but they were intending to be there next weekend.

Whoever wins will have been involved in close racing if there are 3 boats involved, which is always enjoyable.

Can they theoretically get enough points though to be in contention with NZ?

regards
Roy

Just a small correction Roy, re the damage. The hole (about 4ft square,) was caused by compression as the hull came down slightly on its' side. The hull sides are thinner than the bottom, and the section was sort of guillotined between the frames at the point of greatest impact. People were saying a battery fell through but they were apparently all accounted for. A bit of a mission to replace the electrics, although they have spares and the other boat to rob bits from (including if necessary hull sections which can be cut out and used ) That's the easy part, the electronics is the difficult and time consuming bit. The hydraulics were apparently undamaged being a sealed system. Hope they get it all back together in time as we might see some close racing, given the pre crash performance.

Here is an item for the non sailors, which explains True wind and Apparent wind and how this works to make the boats go 'faster than the wind'. If your brain explodes while reading this, don't blame me😂 (Click the green buttons for an animation.)

JB

https://www.nauticed.org/sailing-blog/americas-cup-apparent-wind/

🔗

Hi all couple of items, why did the American Magic boat sink? It seems that going from 50 mph down to zero is just as bad in a yacht as it is in a car!

Something large inside the yacht broke free and went travelling right through the bow and made 'quote' a small car size hole in the hull. One of the crew members could not undo his harness and had to resort to the knife to free himself and help from rescuers.

The other is that the media is focussed on the foils much to the relief of 'some' crews!!! There are a few not quite secrets learnt by the Kiwis in the previous Americas Cup and that is sail control. It sounds possible that this was their advantage that brought the AC cup to New Zealand 4 years ago.

As you will know the yacht design and form eminated from NZ with the rest participating and agreeing and one of the innovations was the 2 surface mainsail.

To go off subject to illustrate the point we must all have flown in an aircraft and noted that at take-off and landing, alterations are made to the wings. The main one is the flaps at the rear of the wing, they do not just extend outwards, they also point downwards and this gives a general curve to the wing increasing the lift of the aircraft at low speed.

Back to the sails! It will not have escaped notice that the sail cambre does change during a race, and a curved sail in crossection gives more sideways lift or power to the yacht and so the yacht will go faster.

This enables the AC yachts to pick up speed prior to getting up on the foil. When they are on the foil they now have too much power and the sail is flattened.

It is thought that the Ineos UK yacht had a new sail system installed after the pre Christmas drubbing. Which seems to work, to say the least!

It is speculated that between the mainsail surfaces there are battens in the lower and upper parts of the sail that can alter the curve or flatten it very quickly. Each yacht has a flight controller with controls extending from trim tabs on the foils to the sail curvature.

I suspect that even when the Americas Cup is decided that there will be some reticence to disclose all the 'secrets' of these boats. The cost of research needs to be paid for somehow.

As a small bit of info the American Magic boat at 8 tons, needed 4 tons of lifting bags to stay afloat, and she had to be towed in stern first.

All participating teams have rallied around the USA team to give any assistance they can, as was said. "We are all in it together".

Regards

Roy

Well done to the Brits - they deserve everything they get. Great race yesterday and actually being able to watch it live on youtube. Was disappointed in previous racing as we were unable to see live footage, looks like that is sorted out.

Looking forward to seeing a series with the 12 meters. Watched Bertrand win over Connors so long ago - even though it was 3am. Was worth it.

Absolutely fantastic racing with Ineos GB touching just over 50 Knts with a yacht that wasn't 100%. 9 passes over a 6 leg race with lead changes all the way. Well done Sir Ben and all your team. Luna Rossa did a great job except for their whinging protests from their helm. So look forward to see them up against the USA next Friday.👍

Team UK does it again, shuts out Luna Rossa to take 1st spot in the semis and into the Prada cup races !👍👍 Brilliant exciting final race . That's more like the close match racing we need!. That'll quieten Spithill down a bit, - wonder if he has anything smart to say now?😁 bound to whinge about something😁

JB

I think it will be too windy today unless it calms down later, gusts to 31kph on the harbour bridge, not sure what their cut-off is. Average predicted wind is around 26kph. Talk about a 2 horse race! Everyone is helping USA to try and get them back in at the moment as if they are not there it would just be a joke. Not really an Americas' cup, more just a tech display.

JB

Hi all, those who watched the racing last weekend will know that the yacht American Magic ended up in a capsize when travelling rather (too) fast coming out of a gate. The damage sustained has meant she has withdrawn until repairs can be completed. She hopes to be in the water again by 29th. January.

In the meantime there will be some 'racing' this weekend. The details are so obscure and you will be introduced to a 'ghost race'. I am just going to watch and see what happens as there are only 2 yachts left in the Prada Cup. (or are there)!!!!!

So next race is Saturday 23rd. January.

Cheers

Roy