America's Cup

Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by arfa brane, Dec 30, 2020.

  1. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    The upcoming boat races should get interesting as the weather warms up.

    Notice this regatta is the domain of rich people who can afford to design and build state of the art sailboats. (Historical footnote: yes, and always has been)
    In Auckland NZ, people can gather in crowds and watch it live from the shore, so score one for the plebs.

    It looks like the crew and the helmsman really need to know their stuff, since it's all about keeping the hull out of the water as much as possible. A campaign is going to want a good crew, but this is all new stuff and the crews are still learning.

    Also notice, these racing yachts would be impossible not that long ago, before the age of carbon-fibre materials for one. A critical component is the hydraulic control system for the foil arms. I haven't seen this before in a sailboat.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
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  3. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    I really think something got lost in the switch from single to multi hulled boats.

    Sheer speed is not an indication of a true sailor and seamanship.

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    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
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  5. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    They are incredible flying machines, more then racing yachts.
    My thoughts of course go back to the first time the pretentious New York Yacht Club were forced to unbolt the trophy and hand it over the Australia's Australia 11, and John Bertarnd and Alan Bond.
    Our PM at that time the great Bob Hawke expressed the view of most Aussies of that time in 1983.............
    https://thebeast.com.au/video/video-week-bob-hawkes-joke-funny-racist/#

    I'm inclined to agree.
     
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  7. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    LMAO, that joke is precious......

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    I'll still be watching.....sailing is one of those beautiful modes of transportation that use natural forces and have absolutely no adverse impact on the earth's ecology. That feels right to me.....

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    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
  8. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Nostalgia.



    and

     
  9. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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  10. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    and



    and

     
  11. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    If you've seen any of the boats in action, "foiling" isn't possible when the windspeed is too low. That is, when there is insufficient power.

    There are three hydrofoil surfaces or blades. The two on the side arms and one on the rudder; one side foil plus the rudder foil are the surfaces all the power goes to when the boat is up and sailing. I've also seen a boat with both side foils down but the hull staying up, during a turn maneuver. And the AC75s don't seem to 'need to' heel to leeward, they all sail upright when they're foiling, pretty much.
     
  12. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    I've asked myself how easy it is to sail an AC75 with both arms lowered? I think it would be easier to then get the hull to lift with twice as many hydrofoil surfaces.

    The racing rule is you can only have both arms down when turning (and presumably changing tack); when straight-line racing you can only have a leeward foil in the water; a bit like being told you have to drive your car on two wheels unless turning.

    A piccy of the NZ team taking their new toy for a drive on the harbour; in non-racing mode:

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  13. Yazata Valued Senior Member

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    For several years, Larry Ellison had his America's Cup racing yacht in the lagoon at (what will soon be the former) Oracle headquarters not far from my home. I used to pass it all the time. Kind of a local landmark.

    It won the America's Cup in 2010 and 2013, but lost in 2017.

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    Last edited: Jan 1, 2021
  14. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    When did the last wooden boat win?
     
  15. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    AC75
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC75


    Cost:
    https://www.sail-world.com/news/200452/Am-Cup--Dalton-refutes-AC75-cost-claims
     
  16. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    1492 when Columbus discovered America.

    How fast did they go?

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    Of the three ships on the first voyage, the Santa Maria was the slowest, and the Pinta was the fastest. The differences were small, however, perhaps about 0.1 knot between them.

    http://columbuslandfall.com/ccnav/ships.shtml
     
  17. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Top speed AC75

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    • Emirates Team New Zealand's AC75 in numbers. Length: 23 metres; Top speed: The AC75s are expected to reach 40 or 50 knots. Mast height: 26.5 metres; Crew: 11; Weight: 6.5 tonnes; Max beam: 5 metres; Max foil draft: 5 metres; Foil wing span: 4 metres; Number of people working on construction of the boat: 30 designers and 35 boatbuilders
    https://www.boatinternational.com/y...tes-team-new-zealand-americas-cup-ac75--41519
     
  18. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    I don't know if anyone here has done any match racing in sailboats. I imagine one or two have done some sailing (me too).

    There is some griping about the AC75 regatta from the teams (not though, from the defenders). The complaints are about how there isn't much "traditional" sailing involved; no tacking duels, no sail changes, no spinnakers or genoas, you take your boat out with a crew that spends most of the time hunkered down, busy keeping the boat's hull up out of the water. It's about not making any mistakes; the team who doesn't make mistakes will or should win the race.

    One big mistake is "splashdown" when tacking. It can then take over a minute to get the hull to lift up again. So in one sense the crews are competing with their boats rather than the opposition's tactics. Tactics are also pretty tied down because of the nature of sailing an AC75.

    So some contenders are talking about a return to the good old days; hulls in the water, more sailing by boat crews, etc.
    The NZ team, if they win the cup, might take some of that on board, but for them it seems to be about showing off their design skills and supporting NZ's yachting industry.

    The politics of yachting, huh?
     
  19. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Of course the skipper of NZ's team is an Aussie, [we always look after our Kiwi cousins

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    ] My God!! That could be interpreted as racist!

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    And getting back to the first time the trophy was ever lifted from the NYYC, here is that famous keel.................

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  20. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Yes I agree, as I remarked in post #2.
    This race should not be about pure speed but about sailing skill and overall sailing tactics.

    Besides these new boats look like 10o million dollar children bikes with training wheels to keep you from falling over.....

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  21. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Even the Oracle Trimaran model was more fun to watch. It did some actual sailing rather than flying

     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
  22. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    I wonder how these foil boats will sail in weather, like this;



    This is "sailing" at its best.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
  23. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Final race New Zealand against Italy.......awesome finish!

     

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