It is incredible!!!!!!

I don't know how to add the link but go to:

BMW Oracle Racing.

Jack

I had just loggged on to add this thread, oh well.

Nice tri though <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wonder if it ever gets on the water..

Looks more like a cat than a tri.

Great looking boat. It's when you start to look at the details of that pic (people standing on/under it, scissors lift, etc) that you realize the magnitude of that monster!

Agree about it looking more like a cat than a tri. Center hull almost looks higher then the outer hulls.

Looks like a cat with a center mounted cat walk to aid in launching the million foot spi off the front of it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

It's the best of both a cat and a tri.

From the tri: The center hull provides longitudinal stiffness for the rig loads (can you say massive). The single dagger board or keel (remember the court case and the definition of a "keel boat") gives a pivot point for increased manuverability.

From the cat: Flying Hull 60 feet in the air.

This may be the fastest day sailor.

Any guesses on the speed over 500 yards in 30 and flat seas.

Jack

Personally the main hull looks weird
It doesn't seem to have a fixed bowsprit, but what is that thing hanging from the tip of the main hull?
Adjustable bowsprit they can remove when going upwind?

IMHO it looks a bit pitchpole happy with that small central hull.

New picture from SA:
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2008/new%20oracle%20tri%20shed.jpg

Just a quick look at the photos indicates to me that the center hull's bow is 64" high and each of the outer hulls is 102"
Never mind in the other photo the bows of all three hulls look to be about the same height 60/62".

Under the category of "pics or it didn't happen;" I definitely did NOT help Russell Coutts rig his Infusion this morning. Further, I did not help Frank Cammas into the water, nor did James Spithill pat my daughter on the head as he walked by. John Kostecki didn't shake my hand, either. None of those guys are here in Long Beach, right now, this instant, training on F18s with Pete Melvin and Pease Glaser. If they were, there would be pics, right? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I'm such a groupie. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Groupie? Name-dropping floater was actually the first thing that came to mind... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Of course, you do far too much work for that to apply, so we'll take your word for it. Now, just teach them to keep the pointy end up so the NBC critics don't have as much ammunition...

Mike

Funniest part - Coutts has a big smile, looks at the boat floating in front of the dock and says, "How do you get on the thing?"

I hate to gush, but these guys are kinda hero-ish. I restrained myself from asking for autographs.

Not much chance for flipping today - lightish 5-10, with a chance for some teens in the late afternoon. Everyone was wearing full wetsuits - it looked awful hot to be so kitted up.

Hey, get them up here to Ventura for tomorrow's round Anacapa Island racee "Tri-point". Start is at ~11:30 AM...skip meeting at 8:300 AM at Pierpont Bay YC.

Beach cats welcome!

Now I know you're makign it up...Coutts did a Tornado campaign and sail in the games a while back.

I thought that was Chris Dickson? I never saw Couts name associated with a Tornado but I live way up here on top, not down under, so I might have missed it.

So how is all this shaking out? Have the courts decided who can sail what?

Seriously, would another team be able to protest the shiny finish? At the right angle that thing, beautiful as it is, must be blinding!

Can bright light "saturate" a tv camera?

I think I will have to put up some Paparazzi lines to keep JW away from the sailors <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The guys are sailing the boats (F18s) very well so far. The first day was rather light conditions. When they came in they were asking what the wind would do tomorrow, they all wanted more. Yesterday was a bit more and by the end of the day they were double trapped. Expecting even more through the weekend. Absolutely perfect conditions to get them on the boats for some fun and practice.

They are switching crews and positions so that everyone is able to know the front and the back of the boat.

The last exercise of the day was a team race. Losers buy the first round, so the game was on. What a hoot! If there are only two boats on each team it always comes down to who got last place. Beautiful move by Coutts with Melvin as crew when they used inside at the weather mark and parked to keep all the others there while his other team caught up. I think it was Kostecki. The last place boat was now the first place boat and they were gone. After the rounding Frank Cammas and his teammate surrounded Coutts and would not let him go. Then as one dove down to gybe away back come Kostecki to save the day. Sailing to weather with the spin up, not working so he was ready for the downwind after the pick. That brought the other boat back and all boats were back together. It was like a free for all joust with chutes going up, down, tacking, gybing, I could not keep track of who all the players were while this was going on. They all crossed the line so close I was not in a position to see who got last. Pease was on the other boat at the line.

Really nice group of guys though and I am having a nice time being their boatwright.

Later,
Dan

Tell Cammas to get his butt to La Baule for the SL worlds, he is supposed to be there. My boy was looking foward to racing him again.

Good God, does Ian have any fingernails left? and does he think it was worth it? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Very cool...how 'bout a little more notice so I can be a groupie too? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />