Anybody else watch the America's Cup?

[Dan Filetti]

Amazing, amazing win for Team Oracle at the America's Cup today.  They started the series down two points, and three key people as they were being punished for having been a bit liberal with the rules in previous races, apparently.  So with a mal-formed team they managed to loose 8 races and win 3 (which left them with 1) in a best of 9 series.  In fact, for the 12th race, (which would have given the win to NZ) NZ was ahead and set to win.  But by a stoke of sheer luck, the 40 minute clock ran out before the race's end and the race did not count.

So, Oracle proceeds to win the next 8 consecutive races and take the cup -possibly the best come-back in the history of sports, and certainly the best in that sport.

Fascinating stuff.

Dan

[DR.GTS.DUCATI.FAZER Dave]

Dan,  I am happy to say I just caught the whole race and was explaining the whole history and concept to the wife during dinner. I do believe your boss is a very happy man today...

Dave Skipper

[Flynt]

So, Oracle proceeds to win the next 8 consecutive races...

I went out with Diane and watched Monday from Ft Mason.  Fantastic is an understatement.  This was a light wind day and the race was too slow to fit in another that day.  Watching USA out sail NZL made it clear...  Oracle learned how to sail that boat, kept making adjustments, and in the end just systematically walked away from NZL through all sections.  Yesterday even proved a NZL advantage at the start didn't matter (races before that USA had won every start in the races they won).

Here's some pics of USA vs NZL...  1-2 knot advantage over the whole course is huge, and USA figured out how to turn on foil resulting in a big acceleration advantage.  Really cool to see them up close like this.

Right from the start USA cranks a big advantage in acceleration...


1st downwind leg we have a 2-3 knot advantage and are building on the start...


Upwind is where USA learned how to maintain the advantage, speeds were similar...


2nd downwind leg and the race is over...


This was #5 of 8 races USA won in succession and it was watching a machine.  USA didn't make many mistakes.  Neither did NZL, but they did make more and they didn't learn to sail their boat as well as USA.  It is also impressive with the 2 race penalty USA had going in.

Great job Larry...  ISLANDS FOR EVERYONE!

[Dan Filetti]

Great job Larry...  ISLANDS FOR EVERYONE!

If only...

Dan

[ELIMINATOR]

The addition of Ben Ainsly worked wonders. 

[FJscott]

Great Race! What a comeback. I am glad the cup is back in the USA however, disappointed there was only one American on the boat when it crossed the finish line. The skipper is Australian. The other shocker was the cost..
500 million to run for the Cup, WOW. In comparison it costs 12 million to fund 1 NASCAR team for a 26race season.

Scott

[airheadPete]

Yeah, that was just amazing. I wasn't sure about catamarans at first, but WOW! Top speed was 55mph! In an interview one of the contestants said he was more comfortable referring to the as machines, not as boats. (Getting close to airplanes.) my friend and I started watching the middle of last week, when USA looked like goners. What a fantastic comeback story. If any of you haven't seen it, I highly encourage you to go to the America's cup site on YouTube; great stuff.

[Ned]

Well Dan while we are all still crying in our beer down here let's keep things in perspective. Oracle built in New Zealand managed by Kiwi skippered by an aussie with a pommie tactician and only one US crew member and financed by the 5th richest man in the world. Team NZ built in NZ all kiwi crew and done on a shoe string budget. I have to say Ainslie and Spithill did make miraculous recovery. Just aswell they ditched most of the original crew. It may be our last challenge because we don't have deep enough pockets to compete with Larry Ellison.
Ned

[Harvy]

Well Dan while we are all still crying in our beer down here let's keep things in perspective. Oracle built in New Zealand managed by Kiwi skippered by an aussie with a pommie tactician and only one US crew member and financed by the 5th richest man in the world. Team NZ built in NZ all kiwi crew and done on a shoe string budget. I have to say Ainslie and Spithill did make miraculous recovery. Just aswell they ditched most of the original crew. It may be our last challenge because we don't have deep enough pockets to compete with Larry Ellison.
Ned

Well said Ned.......it will hence forth be known as the "Australia's Cup".....

Harvy

[FJ Flyer]

We were in San Francisco two weeks ago and wandered down to the Pier where the Cup was staging.  By chance we got there as the boats were getting ready to sail out for a race.  The race was eventually cancelled due to strong winds a tides.  Amazing engineering behind the boats. 

[DR.GTS.DUCATI.FAZER Dave]

Dan,

Thought I would update you on the miniscule oil leak, ok, a little more than that, but it did not adversely affect the riding, lol.  The clutch actuator push rod was bent and the seal thusly leaky rather profusely. New shaft and seal will be here in a few days. I also updated the headlights to 20W xenon for the outside lights and 8W or 50W equivilent LED for the inside lights. The inside are wired for low beam and add the outsides for high. An under seat exhaust system was begun today as was the associated re-engineering of the tail light. The exhaust shoudl pare 12 or more pounds from the bike and a Lithium battery another 8.

Dave

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