Weather in Valencia is drizzly and cold (8 C). Alinghi is being measured this morning - public access inside the inner America's Cup Harbor (where Alinghi is parked) is restricted.

So far we’ve seen a couple different iterations of rear fairings that were all structured from a carbon skeleton skinned with a lightweight fabric. For a week now, USA-17 has had her rear beam fairings removed and a tarp over the center of the rear beam and stern of the main hull and there’s been all sorts of speculation about what that tarp is covering. I heard a rumor this morning that it could be a mechanical system that will control the angle of the aero-fairings on the rear beam so they can be used like ailerons on an airplane to increase or decrease righting moment! Before you laugh yourself out of your chair, remember that these boats are capable of (at least) 40 knots of speed over water in 15 knots of wind. That’s nearly 55 knots of wind across the deck of the boat. It is possible to reap some lift off a set of 6’ “ailerons”.

It’s still anyone’s guess about what’s under that tarp. It could be the text “if you can read this, you’re screwed Alinghi” for all we know.

thanks Jake, question for ya, that skipper wheel house (or wheel area).. does it move or does the skipper have to run over to another wheel station?

Andrew, if you look closely in the middle picture above, you will see the Skipper is standing on a springboard. During the tack, as the boat passes head to wind, he "Jumps" on the board and is launched to the other side. I think he's also wearing a harness and a sort of trap wire arrangement, just in case he doesn't make it on the first jump...

Under the tarp is a net, to catch him should the trap wire break.

I'm sure they have two helmsmen, or at least somebody to take over until the actual driver gets there.

you would think with the money they got, they would just create a clone to handle the other wheel when they tack, or invent the tele-porter.. they are slacking!

Actually Jimmy runs from one side of the boat to the other on top of the rear beam while one of the crew holds the wheel steady. It actually takes a bit of acrobatics to not fall off the damn thing.

Tell "Jimmy" I said Hi.

yes...we saw a sequence of them tacking from onboard about 6 months ago (that video is long gone though). Spithill starts the turn and gets the boat just barely on the new tack...while a crewmember crawls back to the rear beam where he leans back in a prone position. When Spithill is ready, the crewmember holds the wheel steady while Spithill steps up onto the rear beam and walks at a face pace over to the opposite helming station. Once he has the new wheel, the crewmember releases and shuffles back to the net near the center. The boat is really pretty steady through it all - but there is nothing to hang onto while spithill walks over.

We have seen them making tight maneuvering drills where he just stays on the leeward side and drives from there if it's going to be a short run. If they do get into some manuevers on the start line you can expect to see him drive from the low side.

GREAT promo video now available at the following link...crank it up - go full screen - get pumped.

http://www.americascup.com/en/multimedia/video/index.php?idIndex=62

I do not think it is laughable.

Consider a Cessna 150:
about 30 foot wing span
About 5 foot cord
about 1000 lbs
with a take of speed of 55 knots

I think those would be acceptable ailerons for this boat. I hope they are. I would love to see the effect.

Later,
Dan

The New York Court system assigned a hearing date for Feb. 25 as to the legality of Alinghi's sails that were manufactured in the North Sails facility in Minden, NV. The Deed of Gift has a "constructed in country" clause for both yachts and BMWO argues that Alinghi's sails do not conform to this clause and are therefore illegal. BMWO attempted to have this heard by the courts prior to the event but the courts told them to "go race...then we'll talk about it".

If Alinghi wins, they'll still have to answer for this if they do use the North Sails manufactured in Minden, NV (they have already claimed clearly that they intend to do so). It could easily cost them the cup after the fact.

Ghehe, maybe they need some footstraps


Flying to VLC Saturday morning...

Tony, now I'm really jealous! I had started to plan a vacation around it but quit when I started to lose confidence that racing would happen on Feb. 8th during some of the really heated court exchanges.

Something just dawned on me...and it could be crazy. Suppose you were getting ready to install an "aileron" system on the boat at the last minute (which could help some when on the 15 mile death reach on day 2). How would you test the validity of that system? How about putting four guys (700lbs) at the back of the boat to see how much that amount of downforce will affect the boat?

We know BMWO has ballast tanks - they could easily pump water back there instead of people...this is all so perplexing and interesting.

Why do you think Timbo's been out of jets this whole year long? He's been in the simulator teaching BMW how to "fly" with those things...

"...just a little less Up trim if you please..."

Damn showoffs.

I didn't follow this AC stuff in detail, but it could happen. It's time to put the cards on the table (and some fuel in the flames)

Alinghi will win.

What's your bet?

Cheers,

Klaus

BMWO in two straight.

A sixpack of Bud to your best Bavarian Hopped ale!

That's fair, right??

AUS/NZL/NED (BMW/O) - 2
NZL (Alinghi) - 1

Corona for me thanks.

BMW ORACLE

Doug

I'm not a betting man...not with cash anyway...but most of the gambling sites are favoring Alinghi (I suppose these are just for on the water results)

Bet 365
Alinghi - 1/2
BOR 6/4

William Hill
Alinghi 4/5
BOR 10/1

bwin.com
Alinghi 1.65
BOR 2.10

Unibet
Alinghi 1.60
BOR 2.20