Sir Ben & the Americas Cup
Discussion
Interesting to see that Team BAR racing to launch the team a day after Adrian Newey has signed his 'Consultant' deal with Red Bull.
If GB is to have half a chance at going for the Auld Mug, we're going to need some fine minds and deep pockets to battle against the billionaires.
Is it possible?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/saili...
If GB is to have half a chance at going for the Auld Mug, we're going to need some fine minds and deep pockets to battle against the billionaires.
Is it possible?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/saili...
Ben Ainslie and Adrian Newey with Red Bull backing is about as close to a dream team as the UK could field, they must be in with a pretty good chance of doing something spectacular
Interesting that he mentions it as something he has been working on for 3 years - I wonder if they knew that when they took him on at Oracle
Interesting that he mentions it as something he has been working on for 3 years - I wonder if they knew that when they took him on at Oracle
Considering they were in dire straits at Oracle before he came aboard I suspect it was his prior 'engagement' with the sport's technicalities that made him number one choice.
He and Newey and Red Bull in the background give me hope that I've found a new sporting interest for my declining years.
He and Newey and Red Bull in the background give me hope that I've found a new sporting interest for my declining years.
PW said:
Why is everyone frothing at the mouth about Newey being involved?
If Ben Ainslie announced he was stepping back from sailing and had an interest in F1, no one would be saying he'd be designing the next Red Bull would they.
AC sailing these days is 99% about boat/wing design, and hugely reliant on aerodynamics and wing dynamics. Newey is renowned as one of the finest engineers in the aero space and could bring a significant amount of new ideas into a sport dominated by a small number of marine designers. He's also a massive name in one of the biggest sports in the world, putting his weight behind a UK campaign for a cup we've never won. If Ben Ainslie announced he was stepping back from sailing and had an interest in F1, no one would be saying he'd be designing the next Red Bull would they.
Combine most successful F1 designer ever with most decorated Olympic sailor ever and you've got a good story for a British cup campaign.
Ayahuasca said:
Not sure I agree with that, it is also hugely dependent on team pyschology and tactics. How do you think BA turned it around in the Oracle vs New Zealand AC? Sure as hell it was not by redesigning the boat and wing.
Are you sure of that? They did a number of changes part way throughHenryJM said:
Ayahuasca said:
Not sure I agree with that, it is also hugely dependent on team pyschology and tactics. How do you think BA turned it around in the Oracle vs New Zealand AC? Sure as hell it was not by redesigning the boat and wing.
Are you sure of that? They did a number of changes part way throughWhat was changed on Oracle
The last America Cup was such a massive step change for the sport that Newey has been attracted by the opportunity for stunning design innovation. Modern F1 is so restricted design wise that mostly you just play around with winglets etc. By joining a well funded British Americas cup team, Newey gets inspired because he can offer the sailing equivalent of Williams active suspension, the first rear wings, slick tyres, or rear engine layout.
Ben has been very cunning in luring Dirk Kramers (6 time AC winning designer) from Oracle, and many other top designers. They can focus on delivering a stable, capable boat, allowing Newey to focus on the blue sky stuff that yacht designers have never thought of or had the budget to experiment with.
Today the Kiwis slaughtered us, we apparently suffered some kind of gear failure, but we managed to beat the French due to a penalty. The French were faster than us on the water.
Qualified for the semis, but unless BAR can address the boatspeed problem we need others to fail (penalties or gear failure) if we are to win. Sir Ben will need to emulate his Laser performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympics to win this.
Qualified for the semis, but unless BAR can address the boatspeed problem we need others to fail (penalties or gear failure) if we are to win. Sir Ben will need to emulate his Laser performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympics to win this.
Edited by Ayahuasca on Thursday 1st June 22:31
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