America’s Cup, a wing and a prayer …

di Pacio - 12/02/2010 : Nessun commento - Lascia il tuo commento

…I think a few of the designers were seen a church this morning

By now those who are following know that the BMW Oracle won todays race by a convincing margin. The winning delta wasn’t quite a realistic measure of performance but there aren’t too many people at our Team Base unhappy with how the Trimaran performed. We were about 4 minutes faster on the beat and about the same on the run after taking out the time Alinghi lost: at the top mark setting their down wind sail, missing the layline which created an extra jibe and then the botched penalty turn at the finish (the rule states you need to be completely on the course side of the finish when you cross head to wind) that cost them almost 5 minutes. Our guys sailed in more pressure downwind which gave them an extra push. All in all we are surprised that we have such an edge in those conditions.
Some points of interest:

-About 30 minutes prior to the start, at the crucial time to make the wind call, we received a transmission by the authorities that we didn’t have permission to be over the water and to land immediately. I asked my pilot if he was ok to land on the beach and he replied: si, si Morgan no problema. We landed right at the waters edge on the right side of the track near the starboard layline.
The wind at the starting line was 3 knots and the wind at the top mark was 6 knots and we were sitting in 14 knots of wind! Luckily positioned in a great spot to assist in calling the right side. Indeed our meteorologist and his team agreed that the right had better wind.
Funny enough we were called just after the start saying we found the paperwork and we were cleared to fly again!
Maybe this was an accident and maybe someone greased the right wheels to get us off the course!
-Whether it was our boat, the wing, the helmsman or the crew, we seemed more stable. Our wing height was steady and Alinghi’s was up then down then up again. We all know that a steady boat is a fast boat.

-Sunday looks to be light wind but the course is a equal lateral 36 mile triangle. We think the wing will really be quick against them on the reaching legs. We seem to have much more stability (more weight on the rail) than Alinghi.

-The forecast for snow has changed and things are warming up a little. I was beginning to wonder if we should bring in de-icing machines for the giant wing.

Our trusty mechanic fueling up the chopper. Doesn’t exactly look safe but “no problema”!

Minutes before the dock out this morning. We are never behind on the hoist of the main sail.

Another safe landing and it is always good to be alive!

Morgan Larson

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