"My God! It's Full of Wing!"

The DoG's got wing!





(Subject line is a bastardized quote from A.C. Clarke's 2010)

I do wonder how you are going to keep all panels perfectly trimmed, its hard enough to trim one sail let alone seven!
Or would there be some sort of mechanism or computer that does the trimming for all panels? One motor for each panel?
At the wing's base there is a spaghetti central which has lines leading to somewhere else:

I like the name coined by our own Jake Kohl. The "Deathspar" is perfect.

Wing is flying.

http://live6.truelook.com/face/newf...57&imagemap.w=221&imagemap.h=166

going up!

wow....holy cow. The second largest single wing ever constructed and certainly the only one of it's type.

FYI - in the webcam shot - those are people walking on the wing.

I second that, very well thought up.

I already like this Ac for the naming. Like DOGzilla, Cheesezilla, Deathspar, etc

Brilliant.

This AC is so much more radical in all aspects then the previous versions.

Wouter

To be honest, I didn't coin that phrase - it was someone over at Sailing Anarchy...but it's certainly my favorite over "little wing" (Jimmy Hendrix reference) or "Wingzilla". Rumor has it that Larry Ellison wanted to name BOR-90 the Death Star at some point...but that's a rumor.

I was under the impression that its the largest wing ever constructed.... besides wind mills...

there was an experimental human propelled airplane that had one solid overhead wing that was longer tip to tip...but clearly that was an entirely different category. It's considerably longer than one wing off the Spruce Goose or the modern Airbus 380.

The gin-pole is connected and everybody's off the wing now. They either broke for breakfast or.....

or... broke it?

it came up about 10* from the webcam's perspective. The "gantry" has been removed...

Erection imminent!

it's coming UP! (but I gotta go to lunch...).

GOING UP!

Is it up or down? Is that webcam live? It looks like it is down again.

down but installed

I think Rolf mentioned the "AC Deathmatch", which sounds waaay cooler than AC Cup.

still down but the wing is connected to the step and the gin-pole. They've tendered the boat out into the open water presumably so they can hoist the wing and keep the boat oriented into the wind.

There is an article on Scientific American web page about the Wing:

Scientific American.com

coming up!!!!

higher....

something to look at while we wait...photos by "Squid" over at Sailing Anarchy.

More squid shots.

been sitting there like this for a few minutes....

almost all the way up now!

I think the web cam is getting hammered with traffic now - taking forever to load.

They must be raising in planned steps. Been sitting at this angle for a bit now too.

practically there now!

Will they have to do this every time the go for a sail or race?
That could be very risky in any kind of breeze at all.

I'm betting that they will lose this one soon too.

Jeeze, they need a tall hanger so they can keep it up between sails. Sorta like the blimp hanger in Akron, only on end.

shes come up more.

We're almost straight up!

I'm sure they're being very careful and overly methodical here. The hoist shouldn't take more than an hour in the future. However, the Stars and Stripes catamaran that has a rigid wing is left rigged night and day on a mooring so it can weathervane into the wind. If it's not going to be crazy windy, that's probably an option.

I've also heard talk that they might lock the wing in at 90 degrees to the boat and tether it to a mooring with a yoke attached to the bow and to the stern. That way the boat can weathervane around that mooring to the side with the hulls and rudders pointing in the correct direction for moving back and forth.

Yup - looks like they're at the canted angle now so they could be connecting the other shroud. Been sitting there for an extend period now..

I've got to go to another meeting...back in a bit.

WITNESS

IN ALL HER GLORY!!!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_So4nXyDaW.../CUuGZEccJuo/s1600-h/091110_wingout6.jpg

Live Fox webcam pointed right at it, over at Sailing Anarchy AC forum..

Fox live

I can't imagine leaving the rig up... we get some high winds in the winter. A Santa Ana (offshore) condition (which is normal in fall through January) can bring 30 kt plus offshore at the blink of an eye. We were thinking the mast foil alone was going to be an issue for them. The last hard wing boats down here were tipped on their sides at night on a huge hydraulic rack. That isn't happening with this 90 footer. I suspect they will learn to use the gin pole a bit quicker over time and bring the rig down.

Thats it? JAKE??? JAKE???? YOU CAN"T STOP NOW!!! is it up? is it???? JAKE???

Jimminy cricket,..I'm trying to earn a living here!

I lost the Fox news camera feed (I think IT may have bustedme...might hear about that in the morning)...I'm a little lost as to what's happening.

I can't find BOR90 on the webcam either...I'm blind.

It's moving!!!!! They're pushing it out.
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/morningnews/kswb-ls-morning-news,0,3259938.tividlivestream

Fox 5 isn't zoomed in far enough, but the tenders are off the side and she's going forward.

crap...time to try it on the iphone.

found her on the webcam - they were hidden behind that building - she's headed out! Holy cow! Are they going to sail it already?

WHAT??? i thought you were a copywriter working for Rick? no? you have a real job?

Frankly at this point I would be surprised if there isn't the upgraded version being built as this one gos up.

Yes, but maybe not after today! ;-) web cam getting hit hard...really slow...but she's still moving out to the opening of the bay.

I'm going to have to leave station here again...they're still motoring out to the bay opening...detail low and grainy - this side of the web cam is very dirty and the sun shining right at it.

They've only got 2.5 hours to sunset. I don't think they're going to do much out there before coming back in.

This has got to be more exciting than the actual event!!!

THANKS JAKE! (AND OTHERS)

Nice coverage by that Fox webcam of them manouvering in the harbor! That thing looks pretty awesome, especially with the aircraft carrier in the background!

absolutely incredible footage. That thing tacks in 10seconds flat. You can see how the boards raise and lower...

Piece of art on the water. They're really putting the pedal down now.

You guys have GOT to go to this link - they're just sailing back and forth in the harbor...it's a rocket...you can just FEEL it accelerate. All the boat traffic is making me nervous though.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/morningnews/kswb-ls-morning-news,0,3259938.tividlivestream

They just did a starboard tack across the bay behind the Carrier ....

had both hulls out of the water - and it was absolutely FLYING. I mean, it was incredible.

Sunset is in a little over an hour - looks like she's heading back in the channel now but screaming under sail! (or should that read "under wing"?).

I just realized that she's tacking like an animal. With the big head sails (having to furl and unfurl them), both Alinghi and BMWO were taking in the neighborhood of 1 minute to tack. This is a HUGE game change for the prestart if BMWO can tack on a dime like she's showing the capability to.

Definitely headed back in now...I've got a Marstrom rudder arm to vacuum bag...I gotta go.

yep.

I timed one tack and it was 11 seconds from heading to heading, about 20 to get back up to speed.

Real game changer.

Yep. I can almost see them breaking out the Yankee flag now.

Regards,
Eric

I thought you ended your "bag for Beer" program

Anchor Cam: http://live6.truelook.com/face/newf...=11.07128&vfmap.x=524&vfmap.y=33

It really is a very impressive piece of kit, although I think the smoke-grey main and jib was better looking.

Did anyone else notice that we had a bout 4 pages discussing and erection.

Sorry, I must miss my wife.

Dang dang dang dang!!! I had to leave and didn't get to see any of the real fun stuff.

If you guys missed it like I did, here's a link to some footage from earlier in not quite actual time.
Fox5

Nothing short of amazing.

I did give that up...it's bag for RUM now though!

They left the wing up and put the boat on a mooring for the night! I bet there are guards and a sailor ON the boat at night.

and guns...(Todd)

Gotta have guns.
It is manned 24/7 now(when the wings up). Not exactly the best accomodations, but I don't reckon they want him sleeping anyway.

....

There is still a long "road to hoe" here (yes, I twisted that phrase...long story).

While we were busy marveling in amazement at the Death Spar, SNG released their NOR yesterday for the match that has several big points of contention... they limit the wind speed to 15 and the sea state to 39 inches ... anything over that and racing is canceled. They also put back in the rudder measurement issue and stipulate that the BMWO boat must match exactly the dimensions in their challenge (which the NY court has already said they can't do). They also wrote in the possibility for them to have a second "mast" and have a boat of 120' in load waterline length instead of 90' (which means they could put a stick off the stern, call it a "mast" and load up their boat with needed ballast water should the court determine this week that they can't add and remove ballast while underway). There is also some wording that leads one to believe that they are going to challenge where the BMWO wing constitutes a "sloop" rig as per the challenge document.

This thing is going to continue to get uglier.

I've always heard that a hard wing, properely feathered and allowed to weathervane on a mooring, is actually quite stable in very high winds...more so than a bare mast. The wing should dramatically reduce the wind turbulence.

For anyone that doesn't want to work today, Fox5 is at it again!

They have a tow line hooked up, looks like they're headed out shortly.

Lines are tight, they're off the buoy and heading out.

they're towing out now! Just dropped the hook off the mooring. Light air today - probably less than 5 expected.

Fox live cam

Probably be off the horizon in a few minutes.

Someone is manning the camera, so at the moment, they're following it.

When did they add that fairing to the rear beam?

No spectacular weather for the coming days :

Something screwy with that viddy...boat looks impressive...too impressive! The viddy plays back at what looks like double speed...all the little chase boats seem to be going 50-100 mph, flags flutter strangely, cars in the distance doing Mach1 on the freeway.

Pity, would like to get a better feel for performance. Visuals are just awesome though!

in the youtube movie, the guy 99' up that stay has some huevos!!!! sitting up there, right after its attached.... yikes...

PS i am in awe and cant wait to see more video from the dagger area...

two days ago. They also removed most of the netting between the hulls - it's just got a little bikini net right next to the main hull with open space out to the Amas. The skipper has to walk the rear beam to get from one helm station to the other.

new video out last night showing the wing.

Thats HOT!

Already a breakage with the wing unfortunately, should be an easy fix though:
"Second flap pulled out of its hinge, no more sailing, team secured it for tow-in by punching holes in wing and lashing it up, video to follow soon"

Where do I get a wing?

From the depths of the Man shed. The TMS 20 needs one of them. Hop to it.

New video from yesterday. One of the pins holding the 3rd flap in place slid up and the flap came loose. They got it fixed, punched some holes in the mylar skin to tie it up to be sure, and sailed it back home. They'll reportedly lower the wing to the side today and fix it on the boat while redoing whatever captures the rest of those pins. The weather is reportedly supposed to be crappy today anyway...they'll be back out sailing / testing this weekend.

They raked the wing back a little yesterday - the bow looks like it's riding a little better for the short bit we see in this new video. Watch how the rib is getting hammered in the waves!

well i know where you can get a "slightly used" 180' mast.
perhaps after the AC you can make an offer on the wing as well..

I think they aught to send the broken mast to "The Man Shed". He should be able to fix it up.

Back to it again fairing out the hull trying to make a boat the wing will have to wait! I do have an extra carbon mast I'll sell them for 10 million.

anybody know why the mast came down? What broke?

Bring me the mast. Bring it to me in pieces.

THATS HOT!
Thanks Jake!

Beautiful sleeve job Mike! I like the drywall screw, I used them too, repairing Flight Risk's wing mast. What's that mast from? A cat?

Dave

It looks like the giant multihulls are beginning to have their effect on the sailing public. From the Freep:

http://www.freep.com/article/200911...y-can-get-their-boat-out-of-Persian-Gulf

That is a great article, more about the stunted development of the bicycle and cats than the AC but very good on all counts. I had no idea recumbants had been banned long ago. I always wondered why we never see them in the Tour.

Now, can the Swiss get their boat back? Or will LE take BMWO to RAK?

why did they ban recumbents? Can't load the article. Is there a safety issue with them?

No, the article says that way back in time some French guy showed up to a big bike race with a recumbant and kicked everyone's butt, and then went on to set records, etc. so the Bike Union banned them, just like cats an the AC back in 1867. I'll try to cut and paste it.

Here: Something similar happened in cycling a half-century later when a second-class rider, Francois Faure, showed up for races in Europe with a recumbent bicycle on which the rider sat in a reclining position.

Faure soon was hammering first-class pros in major races and set world speed records for the kilometer, mile and one hour. Predictably, the International Cycling Union followed the line of the sailing establishment and wrote new rules that banned recumbents from its events.

The ICU has banned just about anything that smacks of advancing the technology. Frames with no seat stays, aero rider positioning for reduced drag in hour/distance events, it goes on and on.

Most people dont like change, and a lot of people have vested interests in keeping up status quo.


Give me wings

(And if you have not tried a recumbent, but like to ride bikes, you got to try one)

No comment necessary

What is that little triangle sail to the lower left in that picture? Is that the Wing's Spinnaker or a speed brake? ;^)

That has to be their guys training on the Hobie Cat. Can't imagine they'd let anyone else that close.

Mike

Alinghi striker..

Not the bright red sail to the right, the little triangle to the left.

Some guy called "Ashby", anyway I never heard of him, must be some amateur or something.

I know, that wan't my point.

Maybe that other sail helps when moored?

Mike

Thats to keep it head-to-wind when on the mooring.
I have used it on a yacht, where it attaches to the backstay instead.

Looks like an anchor riding sail (which keeps the boat pointed into the wind) to me. Apparently they carry more sail at anchor than the Hobie has altogether, lol.

Regards,
Eric

It's the "parking sail" - one of two that are on each side of the boat when it's at its mooring. Keeps the boat pointed into the wind.

The huge wing sail doesn't do that already? Seems to me any little puff comes along, especially 150' up, and those little parking sails will be about useless keeping that thing straight!

Now, if the big stick were not there at all, sure, Lobster boats have been using these for years, but how effective are they next to a 200' tall wingsail?

I think they will be alright.
Five guys sleep aboard at night, including a guy that can sail the thing.

Do they have one of these?

A Chinese junk parked behind the boat. Must be building it China like all other builders now.

I think it's for **** shade for the guys left on the boat all day when it's not actually sailing.

Well, no the wing wouldn't. A boat at anchor will naturally yaw back and forth to the wind. If it has any source of lift (above or below the water), then it will tend to sail upwind on its tether. The anchor riding sail(s) is(are) there to impart a big weather helm. They cause the boat to pivot head-to-wind before it sails too far. Two such sails (tacked outboard at the sterns) would turn the boat quite aggressively.

Regards,
Eric

Ahhh, I see. But why don't they just put out a stern anchor since people will be on board anyway?

they're little sails to help the boat and wing weathervane into the wind better.

Tony, this just cracked me up, Laughing my butt off!!! Thanks
The question is, does he have the keys to the engine????

1) Because the wind may shift.
2) A stern anchor won't keep the boat from yawing, it will just stop the boat (with a jerk) when it reaches the end of the line.

What you really want, is something that keeps the boat pointed into the wind, so that it doesn't want to sail away in the first place - which is just what an anchor riding sail does.

I've helped run several regattas using a friend's Beneteau 44 as a signal boat. It's keel generates enough lift that, when at anchor, it will sail off to one side, stall, drift back, catch, and sail off to the other side all day long (which is not what you want happening to one end of the starting line). A small sail hoist up the backstay keeps the boat pointed into the wind and it stays put very nicely.

Regards,
Eric

Yeah but, were you under bare poles or did you also have your 200' high wing sail? Maybe the reason they keep 5 crew on board all night is to "sail" it at anchor, so it doesn't try to go away if it gets sideways in a windshift?

How do you know the guys on board are jerks?

The guys are playing cards all night and playing on the internet - they're on security watch and to have capability to deal with some unforeseen scenario should something happen. They're not actively doing anything during the night...the boat weather vanes directly into the wind nicely.

The "guy who knows how to sail it" and is sleeping on board is "Blunted", the same C Class sailor who posted here about a year ago a bunch of pictures of Cogito, its wing and other C Class challengers, with and without lifting foils.
The "small" twin sails are anchor riding sails indeed.

Are they racing for pink slips?

What's a "keel"? Is that like a lead transport module? Where do they deliver it?

Jay, they can't race for pink slips... i just checked the admin and there are no registration, title nor tags issued for that boat. They better not try and sail here in florida with those "new laws" or they may get it "confiscated" until they can prove it isn't stolen!

It is the method in which you fall over when you see the cost of the mast you just broke.

BOR is testing the wing in the bay today and can be watched on this webcam:
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/morningnews/kswb-ls-morning-news,0,3259938.tividlivestream

They had it out with a headsail on it earlier but broke the bowsprit(?). Pics on SA. Looks like they're playing in the kiddie pool now with just the wing.

From BOR Blog:

- Code ceros and gennakers
- Bowsprit broke later in the day

"The guys tested some soft sails today taking a look at code zeros and gennakers for use with the hard wing sail configuration. “We had a good look at the sails and some nice upwind sailing today,” said Simeon Tienpont (NED).

Later in the day, the bowsprit broke, bringing the day’s testing to a close. “It’s frustrating to break gear but we would rather break it now,” Simeon said. “We are still finding the limits on this boat and breakages are part of that process. We are all learning together. Tomorrow we will get back at it."

Miss Nylex used to sail around 3 knots with the wing mast "head to wind"

its almost impossible to get zero lift as the wind isn't constant.. Small shifts in angle creates lift..