we're set to go for race #2 on Sunday. The weather is actually looking quite good. The forecast shows a sustained 20+ far offshore but with a steadily decreasing wind speed as you approach the coast. By 1pm the wind drops to 16 or so all around the race course area - again with the near shore wind being less. Given that this will be an equilateral triangle course (13 mile legs with the first to windward), I think we might again see a delayed start since the course will take them roughly 13 to 15 miles offshore. The only variable is sea state - the wind will have been blowing in excess of 20k offshore for quite some time.

Go the Wing!

Jake, what is your weather source?
This what Windguru has to say about tomorrow:

windfinder. I believe the forecast you attached is for shore. Just a few miles offshore and things change dramatically near Valencia

http://www.windfinder.com/forecasts/wind_iberia33.htm

And here's a map you can click through a sequence of graphical forecasts:
http://www.windfinder.com/forecasts/wind_iberia_animation.htm

For distance scale, the distance from the point south of Valencia to the first of the Balearic Islands (the first small one) is about 40 miles.

Windfinder uses GFS which is not too reliable, combining the forecast for Ibizi and Valancia I'd guess about NNE-10-15 knots.
Start wont be before noon local anyway.

Indeed Windfinder is not the best source, but thez have at least the closest station: Valencia Boya
http://www.windfinder.com/report/valencia_buoy
After the predicted change in wind direction at noon, the wind drops to Alinghi (maybe) favourable conditions, but I guess that the northern winds will leave a lot of swell and this could cause a postponement again...

Anyone know what the scheduled start time is for Race 2?

no signal before 1154 CET.

I don't think that Alingi has favorable conditions.

As much as I want BMWO to clean their clock... I don't know that in a light air race that they would not be much closer in performance.

Thanks.

New story up on my site
JohnCaseyWorldwide
Mute the old guard and turn up our volume. Genny knows match racing and you all know my specialty. We had a great Virtual Eye interview that is used to do all of the race tracking etc. and they downloaded it on my laptop, so now we also have all of the real time info!

I"ve noticed the cute cartoons from A have stopped.

Ahhhh...now lets see more of that please!

So what time is that Central time? 5:54am?

Doug

What is "CET". or better yet, what is it relation to GMT?

take off one hour to get GMT

Paul

Not quite. Well in the summer anyway

Currently GMT(Zulu) is 09:23. BUT the whole of the northernm hemi is (I assume) on Summer time and so +1; Current UK time is 10:23; CET is CURRENT UK plus 1; so it's currently 11:23 in Valencia.

GMT never changes; local time; where daylight saving, or summer time is used may.

Simon, you have to check which day you are on overthere in the UK but we are definitely NOT on summer time!
Current time in Valencia right now is GMT+1: 11:31
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/

Valencia time clock here - live count down of time.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=325

Me stoopid. Sorry chaps not much sleep last night. Must be dreaming it's summer so I am better and can sail sand race again.

fuckin delays.

For the multihull side of the sailing spectrum I dont see how BMWOs win will do us any good.
Ellison already said that his view of the future is scaled up RC44s (RC88??), that just sounds like a bad joke to me.
No I think that the guy selling overpriced handbags will get back into the game and they will go back to reducing the AC to another match racing series in slow boats between posh yachtclubs.

Until BWMO looses the cup, then comes another DoG match and Zilla gets rolled out of the shed again. (Wishful thinking)

Why does the BMWO show sound like they record it in the bathroom?

<****.

Any starting time announced so far?

From Dee Caffari's twitter:
"Well if the 33ACup does not get the show on the road by 1500hrs CET then Eurosport are out of there."

from SA:

Genny on SA just said the limit it 14:30, but I think she is wrong.
What was the starttime on friday?

I think it was about 14:30 IIRC.

14:20
Improved a little again at 090 degrees direction 6 knots at the committee boat. And the race committee are now reported to be clearing the possible start area, asking spectator and media boats to move.

Anyone watching OTWA on Justin.tv?

www.Justin.tv says 20 minutes till start.

Doug

Says that about every 20 minutes...

Commentary live now on ESPN360.

Doug

I've given up and will watch the rugby until something happens in v. Will watch rugby on the tv on the pc and ac live via web.

Helicopter sounds on the official feed. Must be good news.

yup - took them about 30 minutes after the helicopters lifted off to get the race started on Friday.

Jobson and Smyth said choppers have left. We should be going soon.

Doug

3knots at A mark? YGTBSM.

I thought they were going to have a sailboat race...

Which camp full of asshats picked this race site? I really don't care who wins, both owners are jerk-offs and the teams are so mixed there really is no "National Pride", but I would like to see a decent race...in winds above 6 knots...

time limit is 1630. if the race isn't started until then, no race will be held today.
Course is changed again to make it possile

That's 10:30 am for you US East coaster's.

Randy is giving Jobson a Clinic.

I wish I could hear that ESPN360 feed but my local internet provider doesn't cary it. Yes, I sent them an email about that, no reply...

officicial transmission starts in 4mins

Game on

start at 1625

Postponement flag down. 10 minute of prepare. Get ready boys and girls!!!!

Doug

Does anyone elses jerk when at full screen on ESP360?

DOug

penalty for alinghi

That was just a dumb penalty to incurr; completely unnecessary

Wouter

Ernesto should have left his ego at home and let someone else drive Wouter. Wish this damm thing would not skip at full screen.

Doug

I need a wing! Might be able to catch that unny looking blue boat that visits from the outerbanks.

Would be really cool to see that wing on the A. After winning, if it were me I might offer it to them. Jobson just said race coming up, they are taking a break to get ready.

Loick peyron on the helm at Alinghy now and A. goes ALOT better now.

Wouter

A. leading now by 70 mtr coming from 600 back.

Well made manouvre.

Wouter

Anyone care to guess how much lead A need to take the pen?

2 minutes? Also; will they take it before the windward mark; or will they try and get one back?

Remember it's a GYBE before the WW or a tack at the end.

That penalty was just stupid !

Who was that guy that said A. lost alot through bad boat handling. I agree with him on friday and it looks like that is the right judgement today.

Ernesto of the helm and we have a race !

A. is extending the lead !

Go Loick ! (Famous ORMA skipper and Round the World cat/tri record attempts)

Wouter

250 mtr lead by A. and extending.

Wonder wapon the wing is not doing its magic now.

Wouter

Alinghi is fater upwind now. Seems like EB on the helm again

They are far apart for the wind to be different winds.

True but remember how much margin BMWO had in race 1 ; how much difference in wind speed and direction do you think A. need to extend their lead to over 400 mtr when 600 mtr behind at the start ?

I think A. is handling their boat better as well. Good choice to go for the small jib and not loose to much height (as the did with the Genoa)

The rest is tactics and luck with weather but that is part of the sail boat race right ?

I'm hoping for a 3rd race ! (against the odds, I admit)

Wouter

that different mainsail is kicking butt on Alinghi! (or they've redlined their ballast water). We have a race! It will be interesting to see them get back into the same breeze.

That penalty was school boy. Basics of match racing, before the warning flag for entry, don't go between start boat and pin. Must stay on your side. They have judge you on vertical lines from each start mark Being between is just stupid.

But why wasn't Peyron steering the first race???

looks like a fuller main today for alinghi. surprising how they could improve in 1 day

The A5 mainsail looks a bit fuller.
Yedi master on the helm.

Scoob,

They keep saying Loick is on the helm and not Ernesto.

Wouter

What does this mean for the wing?

what's Alinghi protesting!?

Something to do with the prestart?
Or windshift?
Dunno

lawyers back in race

Looking at the plots on the Sky sports it looks like A is pointing higher a bit; but speeds appear to be similar and so the layline will NOT be the same for both boats; it COULD mean A is in fact a bit more ahead

They say it is a technical or measurement protest. Who know. Now we will see a drag race. If the pitching keeps up Alinghi may pitchpole.

Doug

This is going to be close........ But USA17 one tack ahead.....

Doing 28 to 30 kts in 7-8 kts; Fantastic!!!

Both of them hitting 30kts, in what? 8kts of wind?

only bmwo going 30kts

Randy's commentary is splendid.

wider boat is faster as simple as it is

guess it is 5kts for bmwo.

The small jib is hurting Alinghi. I am interested in seeing what the protest is. Oracle boat speed is killing them. 4 knots is huge!!!

Doug

Oracle is walking away from them now....1100 plus meters.

Doug

has the Sky coverage gone down?

http://www.skysports.com/americascup

Feckers have stopped coverage!

its about 3min now. I would say race is over if BMWO makes nothing stupid, still I am afraid about that protest flag

30 knots vs 25 knots...Alinghi is toast!!!! Protest should not fly. Jobson saying Oracle was one to many people today. What the &(&(*( does that matter?

Doug

Is BMWO wider? Cam Lewis keeps saying that, but I thought both boats were 90' x 90' ?

BMWO is carrying their gennaker hoisted but furled and draging the sheets through the water and still faster.

Looks wider to me too. Think just the waterline matters in rules?

the rules say 90 x 90 static water line. Actually alingh true lwl is 101ft and BMWO 130ft, BMWO is 90ft wide, Alinghi somewhat less, two tennis courts. You can see it if you look from top. But now that's history. I hope this protest is nothing serious.

Another 5+ minute butt-kicking, wow.

I had hoped it would be closer with more crosses, tighter racing, etc. But you cannot deny how much faster and more stable BMWO was, although Alinghi did look much better today, still a lot of snake-wake on the downwinds vs. BMWO who looke to be on rails.

Protest does not really matter that much I think. This is going to the courts anyway methinks.

Question is what will AC34 look like now that Larry have won.

protest retreated

Was that great or what!

The upwind leg was amazing!

Last I heard Larry wants to do it on San Fransico Bay, have not heard what type of boats, but SF Bay is known for high winds and I'm not sure his wing mast will fit under the bridge, so I doubt it will be on Dogzilla, although I would love to see that thing go in 20 knots of breeze!

Last thing that I heard was lighter sportier mono's and a return to the proper format.

Well done USA Great spectacle.

West River Sailing gets a plug by Jobson. He said he wanted to come race an A at west river.Sounds like he has seen the error of his ways.

Pretty awesome first leg! *Yawn* for the rest though.

Doesn't look like either of these boat could handle much rougher water though. Hard to tell what the sea state was just because of the massive size of the boat throwing off perpective, but BMWO was really twisting, and Alinghi was really pitching going to weather. Makes me wonder how long they'd last in much more wind.

Tim, do you still have the Jobson link? He and Smyth did a great job on ESPN360. We should all send a thank you.

All F18s now being offered with an optional wing upgrade package... if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.

http://www.jobsonsailing.com/

Congrats BMWO

Well deserved win.

Wouter

So...should we all be looking into building wings? ;^)

I would like to see Ben Halls get more on the water testing, maybe with a taper towards the top like BMWO's, maybe a mid wing slot with a better camber adjusting system?

if you were listening to Randy, the cheaper yet effective next step up in performance is the curved daggerboards.
and I'd guess the ability to "Cant the rig" would be another performance enhancing mod that might be applicable to a boat that joe sixpack could someday hope to afford.

Unfortunately my internet provider did not allow me to listen to ESPN360.

I would have loved to have heard what Randy had to say.

I think you can get it on Jobson's site now...

Oops - not yet. Pretty sure you'll be able to later.

Cat guys are headed to ABYC later for beers and a replay.

I was really quite amazed by the errors in judgment by Team Alinghi.
I mean Really, drawing fouls in BOTH races prior to the start ?

but then, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised given the errors in judgment EB made off the water.

I am reminded of a couple of life's little truisms,

"The lawyer that represents himself has a fool for a client"
I Think EB should have let someone else drive the boat.

and

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
I think that EB has so much money and so much power that there was no one in his circle of familiars that could make him see that he was making SERIOUS errors in judgment.

Forcing it to a DoG match = Error
Losing in court time after time = Error x 11 at last count
Failing to upgrade to a wing = Error
Helming and judgment errors on the water = Error X at LEAST 3 or 4 that were obvious even to me.

Thanks JW.

Have one on me...

OH... and don't forget it's Valentine's Day!

If Mamma ain't happy, nobody's happy!

I already filled that square yesterday, so I could sit at the computer for hours today, watching the match.

Me too, Dinner, Movie, Flowers, Candy and a Card.
She even sat and watched most of it with me this morning.
:::::Sigh::::: Life is Goooooooood.

I wonder if the 360 commentaries will be available? Can somebody post if they become avaiable?

Email sent to Gary:

Mr. Jobson,

I hear that you and Randy did an outstanding job on your commentary for the America's Cup races. Unfortunately my ISP does not carry the ESP 360 broadcast and I had to listen to the Official AC33 commentary. Are there plans to make your commentary available to the general public? I would be very interested in obtaining a copy of the broadcast, as I know others would from the blogs on the Cat Sailor forum.

Regards,

Mike Shappell

Mamma sat with me watching the race today - and was as enthralled with it as I was - well almost

Tim, your cousin is on the Sailing Club committee with me this year - her maiden name is Bohan, and her father is from Carrick on Shannon !

...and mine did as well.

Here is where I'll throw in a huge "thank you" to Jake for piquing my interest in something I previously had absolutely none.
Thanks Jake for your hours of posts, glad the racing turned out so damned exciting.

Dermot, tell her I said HI! And you can give her my email too, maybe we are cousins for real?

One of my 3 sisters did go over to visit the homeland back about 20 years ago, and she did find some of our cousins in Carrick, so ask her if she met a Jannet Bohan back then.

Thanks!

Time for a Guinness I think...

My wife slammed the door to my office when I was watching it because I was yelling at the damn computer screen. I was soo worked up over this event and I've never wanted a team to win so badly as I wanted BMWO to win this one - if nothing else than to just stop the lawyering.

SNG race committee goes on strike against start.Anybody else hear about this. Just reiterates the entitlement Alinghi thought they had. Scroll to Part 59.
http://bit.ly/b32KXU #

I just read that it is hard to believe. I did see some cameras on Bennentt in the RC boat and he was pushing the them away a little before the start

Yep,
I saw that too. I figured he was just stressed because of normal race decisions,now I know why.

The San Francisco Bay is one of the best sailing arenas anywhere, for both sailors and spectators. I really hope the Cup comes; it would be a real treat and allow more spectating than any other venue I can recall. "High winds" are a relative thing--Summer afternoons to see 25+, nasty currents and square wave in the Slot. Many different types of boats--especially in the hands of pro sailors--would do just fine. Conditions in the Fall and Spring are often more moderate, both in terms of air temp and breeze. GGYC would be a great place to bring it home too.