Twenty Knots

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

This is such a lead, almost embarrassing. Still, race isn't over yet, so anything can happen.

No, I think you are wrong there mate. It is pretty much over unless Spithill can cause ETNZ to break their boat. He was definitely up to something on that last prestart letting them have the lead like that.

Oracle cannot tack with ETNZ and their speeds are similar. Like I said, I didn't watch the LV Cup and had no idea that they had a reaching start. I've never seen that before in buoy racing.

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

This is such a lead, almost embarrassing. Still, race isn't over yet, so anything can happen.

It is embarrassing. Good thing there aren't any Americans (ok only 1 1/2 Americans) on the boat.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

It is embarrassing. Good thing there aren't any Americans (ok only 1 1/2 Americans) on the boat.

Well that's probably the same proportion as in the whole US nation ... ;-)))))

b.

[colemj]

I don't think "embarrassing" is the correct term - the fastest, best sailed boat is winning the races. That seems natural.

BTW, you can't have it both ways - wanting the US to win while hating the whole thing the US brought about...

Mark

[DumnMad]

My take: Oracle is a very good boat, exceptional skipper and would have beaten the other challengers. TNZ designers and teamwork a step ahead.

[flash]

Originally Posted by bill cartwright

I think the America Cup has turned in to a joke. The people and money spent for this show is unreal. It is like going drag racing and watching the funny cars only and not the little people who spend their hard earned moery to race and place. I will stick with the little guy hands down. As far as these oversized Hobie Cats on steriods, well that is another story. I have sailed the bay and love to play in the Gap with my Ranger 22 a while back and now I sail the Gulf with 20+ winds daily. I have sailed for years around the Santa Cruze Island off Ventura with 60 knot winds and 30 foot seas and all was done by myself with no fear or worries. 20 knots is nothing and if these boats can not perform in all winds then they need to go back to real racing as it has been done for over a hundred years. If they want to make sailing competative then they have to open the classes and assign handicaps so more people can get involved. Limiting it to 2 or 3 boats is sad and takes away from the rest of the world. It should not be "How Much Money You Got" but rather Just How skilled you are with your boat so you and the boat are as one. Monohulls only should sail this course and hydrofoils and the other types should have their own class. I think with the proper handicap, a good windsurfer could win the thing over and he would have done so for less than 5K in equipment! Again it should be the sailor and not some billion dollar boat in these events. Lets make it a Iron Man Race with one sailor from each country racing! YEA!!!!
This is just my opinion, I am sure you have your own, so spill your guts.
Bill Cartwright
S/Y Enterprise
Galveston,Texas

60 knot winds and 30 foot seas in a Ranger 22 with no worries? Uh huh. Yeah, that sounds plausible.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by flash

60 knot winds and 30 foot seas in a Ranger 22 with no worries? Uh huh. Yeah, that sounds plausible.

No sweat in a Hurley 22....
Try it be4 ya knock it bud...

[rtbates]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Remainder of America

I always enjoy a good touch in cheek! That was very funny..

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rtbates

I always enjoy a good touch in cheek! That was very funny..

Glad some one appreciated it... started to think CF had suddenly developed a 'Mast up de ass...'

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by thomm225

No, I think you are wrong there mate. It is pretty much over unless Spithill can cause ETNZ to break their boat.

That's why I ain't celebratin' yet. The 20 of the 80/20 rule isn't in the bag.

Oh the places we will go!

[Chuteman]

Originally Posted by Chuteman

GO KIWIS.........

Oracle has received significantly more attention, applause and praise (collective sizzle) than ENZ including online sailing forums
Yet look at the bottom line results - only 1 race won & 1 postponement For OUSA
skipper Jimmy Spithill explained: “We're going back to regroup,” - HUH?????

ENZ - they know how to sail too.

GO KIWIS

GO GO GO KIWIS
Nice start move on #7, do that more
Keep it simple, keep doing what 'cha doing.
GOOOOOOOOOOO KIWIS
P.S. Agree Salty, ain't over till it's over

[Stu Jackson]

I agree that participating is usually more fun than watching. However, I was out there on Tuesday on the way to one of our favorite anchorages. (You can see me on the video !!!! east of Mark 2 between the large white Hornblower party ship and a large white trawler and a BIG blue hulled sailboat , no sails up, white hull, blue mainsail cover and blue furling jib trim. I was there pretty much by accident, hadn't planned it, but figure, what the heck, if I'm near Mark 2 I'll go take a look! ). Locals also know that they do the commentary on the races on VHF CH20, so I was aware of what was happening.

I've raced on The Bay for many years, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you "do The Cityfront" (hug the shore) when there's a building flood. And also, when there is a lot of south in the wind, as there was on Tuesday, your best bet is "to do the long boards" first when going upwind. The Kiwis went onto starboard tack, the "short board" to get relief from the current, while the Americans really blew it by BOTH doing a horrible maneuver AND going out into the flood, although on the port tack long board.

Them's the choices you have to make when sailing here.

In this regard, then, the Americans had a 105 m lead and blew it. Completely.

So at least there WAS a lead change.

And it was pretty exciting to watch in person, although having been on a friend's stake boat for the AC45 races and seeing this one, it is more exciting to watch on TV. They're big and they're fast, and Mark 2 has had some great moments. It was pretty thrilling to see them both rounding Mark 2, although I've had them come and buzz me while they were practicing during the earlier parts of the summer, and they were a LOT closer than I was able to get on Tuesday.

It's really too bad the commentators, except for Gary Jobson, seem to have no clue. I've already noted that their continued use of phrase "The Cone of Alcatraz" is simply wrong, 'cuz the Cone is east of the island, not south of it - yeah, there's a little current nudge from the flood bouncing off the southwest corner, but that's it. The Cone is actually the dead air area east of the Island, where one can get some current relief BEHIND the island (during a normal west wind summer race, the general wind direction is 242 magnetic), not south of it. On a flood, going anywhere near the southwest corner of the island is just plain wrong for sailing upwind.

I'm just waiting for NBC to do their commercial breaks at the start AND at each of the marks! That'd make it REALLY exciting to watch. Hmmm...

I think the commentators miss the mark (pun intended ) when they don't talk strategy, AND miss explaning (at all!) what to many of us who race here are plainly obvious issues. Trying to make a sailboat race start like an automobile race is not something I think has any bearing on the races. At least they stopped saying, "He's motoring along at high speed!" Geez...

My wife says I should watch but turn the sound off! She is, of course, right yet again!

MOST folks don't know the REAL score is + whatever it is to MINUS 1.

Even the bloody "commentators."

[Coops]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Glad some one appreciated it... started to think CF had suddenly developed a 'Mast up de ass...'

You can stick whatever you want up there today good sir. Because it's your birthday. have a bloody good one ya old bugger.

Coops.

[boatman61]

Cheers Mate......
Chicken Piri Piri, Greek Salad, a very nice 'Dao' red wine.... Birthday cake and Champagne... it was a tight fit but....

Actually it was a good Cava... but Champers sounded better...

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Cheers Mate......
Chicken Piri Piri, Greek Salad, a very nice 'Dao' red wine.... Birthday cake and Champagne... it was a tight fit but....

Actually it was a good Cava... but Champers sounded better...

Happy birthday Boatie!
We will have a toast to you tonight xxx