I'm not sure if the numbers are fair, but the Porsmouth yardstick indicates about 5% diference (57.7 against 60.5).

According to this article about the 1983 AC, the Cup should have gone to the Dutch (sort of).
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/winged-keel-not-lexcens-design-20091014-gvy0.html?autostart=1

Yeah, thats what I meant to say.

I cant believe that the AC looks like it is going to be sailed with multi's AND it looks like they are going to use rigid wing sails. If someone had suggested that 4 years ago I would have laughed in their face. Now this is looking like more and more of a reality and its exciting because all of us on this forum have embraced high performance racing multihulls, and now the rest of the sailing world is now being introduced to multi racing at the highest level. Unbelievable.

What else is truly remarkable is the speed at which these programs build working race boats. When someone told me Ben Hall had sold his wing Oracle earlier in the year, I didnt give it a second thought. Now they have a full size wing. Unbelievable.

If its multi's and rigid wings, I'm considering going to go watch in person.

Bill

The sad bit is that it is not going to make much of a difference to established monohull sailors if we get two giant multis with wings racing for the cup. Will be good for recruiting to multis I believe, if there is significant coverage outside sailing media.

I don't know... Every time we drag F18s to a monohull, yacht club event, I get about 20 calls the next day wondering what, "those Hobies with spinnakers were." I think the AC has been pretty good as far as spreading the multi word. Maybe there will be some spillover onto OUR racecourses from these giant multis? I hope!

I think the old addage rings true:
"There is only one thing worse than being talked about and that is NOT being talked about."-Oscar Wilde

Stand by for info on the wing and various other things BMW/Oracle... Can't say much now.

J

I thought that too - and had laid some groundwork to go to Valencia. Now that it's in RAK, I'm really not interested. It's not that it's the mid-east - I've been there a couple of times...but I don't think RAK is going to have the accommodation structure for all this. It was only until two weeks ago that the had enough diesel generators to supply electricity to the whole town.

Finally someone that actually talks about sailing!
Sailing World's interview with Ed Baird.
http://www2.worldpub.net/images/sw/4-SWPodcast091007.mp3
Some practical sailing tips in there as well, and some interesting stuff about Hydroptere.

Anyone else think that LE is being an butt with this whole venue dispute?
If he was so concerned about security maybe he shouldn't have so many offices in the middle-east? Yemen? Syria?
I dont think BMW is very happy with him at the moment either

http://www.oracle.com/global/me/corporate/contact.html

There is no doubt they are both a couple of hyper rich super sized douche bags. But, I do enjoy looking at their toys.

well said!

Annoyed at LE?!?!?!

How the kiss could you be annoyed at LE when it was EB that picked a stupid venue that

A) Has no wind and
B) Is not deed compliant

??? The "security" thing is just another cherry topping to add to the litanies of shortcomings of RAK as an A/C venue. Hell they just got enough generators to power their rat-hole city just recently.

As for LE's business interests there - thats a whole different ballgame than sailing a boat called "USA" ... carrying American Flags (God Bless the Red White and Blue!) and in an event called the AMERICA'S Cup a mere hop, skip and a jump away from a country who is KNOWN to fund and support Islamic fundamentalist terrorism.

Just do it in valencia ffs.

Do you know whay it's called the Americas cup?

Dont bother. You are a euro weenie without a clue on terrorism, politics, the americas cup, rat hole cities, Leisure suit Larry, Ernesto Moneybags and just how god is blessing the USA.


I dont quite see the relevance to wings. Take it to the hole known as "Drill, Baby, Drill part deux"

Oh, I forgot to say Hitler.


Not much patience for political discussions or even blaming today. But I would like to hear more about wings.

Good thing there are no terrorist in Spain, well apart from ETA that is:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=6339000

A few months ago I came across this picture of a BMW Sailcar concept drawing but didnt think much of it, but now I think maybe it could be relevant?
Whadaya think? BMW certainly knows a lot about aerodynamics thru their F1 experience.
http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/09/07/bmw-blue-dynamics-land-yacht/bmw-blue-dynamics-1/



Did you guys listen to the Baird interview?
It debunks hydroptere as a real boat because it cant go upwind.

Hmm, tacking to work and gybing home again
Cool thing! Not very practical, but cool.



Hitler! Hole -> "Drill, Baby, Drill part deux"



The british C-class team borrowed some resources from Airbus when doing their wing, but practical experience proved better. I dont know how well BMWs knowlegde would carry over to designing a wing, but hey, I hope to see some wings on those boats, racing, soon.

Personally, I hope the AC multis don't use a wing.

Just think that if you want to convert some mono traditionalists and lead them down the path to multis it has to be one step at a time.

A multi with conventional rig would be more likely to get their attention and imagination given their experience base.
The same group would be more likely to rate the multi wing combination as something unrelated to what they do.
I'm sure that we need them to see a link to get them thinking.
Just the way I see it.
Regards,
Phill

I think multihull sailing has suffered for years in trying to appeal to a few 'traditionalists' who don't want to move on. Having fought for years just to protect the interests of cat sailors I now view the traditionalists as very much a lost cause. Formula one will never convince staunch green supporters to aspire to motoring, and 60 year old plywood dinghies do very little to tempt people (of all ages) away from 'virtual excitement'
If the AC gets the right media coverage it is more likely to grab the attention of the open-minded who, if directed towards active contemporary multihulls, may bring some much needed new blood and maybe fresh ideas into the sport. It is an opportunity to be seized. The sheer cost of it all should grab some headlines. Any dramatic failures, even more.

Cheshirecatman

I'm not a big fan of the security card they're playing - I think that security IS an issue but it's not as dramatic as they are presenting. It certainly has no relevance to the Deed / ruling legality of the location. However, there is a lot of potential instability with the Iran / US relations and the landscape could be completely different in February. Add to that the fact that Ellison is Jewish...it puts a bit of a spin on the whole middle east thing on a personal level. I've been scrutinized just getting into Saudi Arabia because I had an Israel stamp in my passport - many places in the middle east do not allow Jewish people into the country.

I disagree with the opposing argument that "he has businesses there" as that's a completely different animal. This is a huge high profile event - you can't compare the security considerations of a large profile America's Cup campaign that spans a huge amount of water, including into some disputed Iranian territory, to holding a business office in Dubai. It's equally absurd.

I think, rather, the drama they've illuminated over the security ordeal is more of a legal tactic than a true belief...but who knows...rich billionaires get their panties in a twist over dumber things.

Its called the America's Cup because the first boat that WON the thing was called "America"

You know, I might be a bleeding heart American Exceptionalist - but I'm not the ignorant "Stupid American" that you seem to think I am.

Was that directed at me? I'm confused.

Yeah, Jake,
How dumb are you ? I hope Tad Kicks your butt.




Just Joking.
I'm pretty sure that was directed at Scooby Simon, a couple posts above yours. He was playing the "Americans are a bunch o' idiots" card.

Rolf,
I agree with you keep all the extraneous bile in the Drill thread.