Sir Ben & the Americas Cup
Discussion
Ayahuasca said:
rdjohn said:
As an unbiassed observer, i feel that if a lead greater than 1km occurs while one boat is off its foils then the race should be abandoned.
It will be a great pity if the series is decided by one unrepresentative race especially where both boats struggled because of very variable winds across the course.
No, each team takes its chances and sails the best race it can. Fluky winds have always been a part of sailing. It will be a great pity if the series is decided by one unrepresentative race especially where both boats struggled because of very variable winds across the course.
A boat winning despite being off its foils for 4mins, seems unjust until the other crew spend 8mins off theirs. The fact that leg 6 had to be cancelled shows just how little wind there was out there. If you have a minimum race wind velocity, it needs to be closer to the minimum across the whole course for the duration of the match, rather than the clubhouse just before the start. Awarding repeated 50m penalties to a boat 4km behind, and dead in the water, demonstrates just how out-of-touch the rules are to such realities occurring within the race.
Far better to abandon the race, like today, it just heightens the tension for tomorrow.
rdjohn said:
Ayahuasca said:
rdjohn said:
As an unbiassed observer, i feel that if a lead greater than 1km occurs while one boat is off its foils then the race should be abandoned.
It will be a great pity if the series is decided by one unrepresentative race especially where both boats struggled because of very variable winds across the course.
No, each team takes its chances and sails the best race it can. Fluky winds have always been a part of sailing. It will be a great pity if the series is decided by one unrepresentative race especially where both boats struggled because of very variable winds across the course.
A boat winning despite being off its foils for 4mins, seems unjust until the other crew spend 8mins off theirs. The fact that leg 6 had to be cancelled shows just how little wind there was out there. If you have a minimum race wind velocity, it needs to be closer to the minimum across the whole course for the duration of the match, rather than the clubhouse just before the start. Awarding repeated 50m penalties to a boat 4km behind, and dead in the water, demonstrates just how out-of-touch the rules are to such realities occurring within the race.
Far better to abandon the race, like today, it just heightens the tension for tomorrow.
There's an argument that the drop back 50m penalty is a bit daft but equally with these speeds making a 360° or 720° penalty would just finish the race. Bad burnt as scalded really.
Exactly. Similar to saying that once a Williams has been lapped twice by a race leader they have to retire. Only for a mass pile up five laps later and the Williams is the only finisher.
You can't fudge the rules because of light winds. The course boundaries are there for a reason, same as track limits in F1.
You can't fudge the rules because of light winds. The course boundaries are there for a reason, same as track limits in F1.
To my very untrained eye there appear to be a couple of differences:
1. Size and use of foils appears very different between boats. I think TNZ are getting away with smaller, flat foils by allowing their boat to list in sharp turns. This appears to allow them reduce the amount of speed they lose in turns because they have two foils in the water for less time.
2. TNZ may also be using the shape of their boats upper hull to reduce the tendency of the boat to "crab" in turns to facilitate this. I think that's why they get forced into sailing at a less acute angle to the wind most of the time and consequently cover more distance at higher average speed.
The penalty, I'm sure, is that the TNZ boat is probably even more difficult to sail and has an even smaller window.
1. Size and use of foils appears very different between boats. I think TNZ are getting away with smaller, flat foils by allowing their boat to list in sharp turns. This appears to allow them reduce the amount of speed they lose in turns because they have two foils in the water for less time.
2. TNZ may also be using the shape of their boats upper hull to reduce the tendency of the boat to "crab" in turns to facilitate this. I think that's why they get forced into sailing at a less acute angle to the wind most of the time and consequently cover more distance at higher average speed.
The penalty, I'm sure, is that the TNZ boat is probably even more difficult to sail and has an even smaller window.
The regatta was missing a high wind day - that would have added another dimension.
It'll now be interesting to see what event is scheduled next for these boats. They have to have a shorter term target
for this year's competitions or they'll risk a tiny field for the next cup.
Momentum is everything - there are precious few backers for an AC team, so the existing competitors need to remain involved & busy & hopefully a few new entrants get interested.
It'll now be interesting to see what event is scheduled next for these boats. They have to have a shorter term target
for this year's competitions or they'll risk a tiny field for the next cup.
Momentum is everything - there are precious few backers for an AC team, so the existing competitors need to remain involved & busy & hopefully a few new entrants get interested.
The Royal Yacht Squadron have just challenged NZ for the cup. Details to be worked out over the next days but NZ have accepted. Apparently.
Rumour had it they want it to be on the Isle of Wight next summer just between Ineos and TNZ but we'll see how much truth there was in that from a few days ago considering Ben Ainslie said he wanted the cup to be more inclusive previously.
Rumour had it they want it to be on the Isle of Wight next summer just between Ineos and TNZ but we'll see how much truth there was in that from a few days ago considering Ben Ainslie said he wanted the cup to be more inclusive previously.
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