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gpshephe · 18-10-2012, 04:20

Team Oracle destroyed one of their AC72's.

Oracle Team USA AC72 Capsize - YouTube

**Blue Stocking** · 18-10-2012, 05:01

Maybe we set up a donation fund for Larry--wha ya think?

**jeremiason** · 18-10-2012, 05:05

I think the America's Cup has gone from a great yachting event to anthoer version of NASCAR....

The boats are extreme... Too extreme for the San Francisco Bay and it's winds.

**DennisM** · 18-10-2012, 05:25

I sailed into Newport Harbor in June, not realizing the new version of America's Cup was taking place there...right in the harbor. Well, I guess that's the only way they can build spectatorship from the shore. But I thought I was going to get run over. The race officials, harbor master and other officials had NO CLUE about how to cordone off the races. I loved seeing the Oracle boats screaming through the water, but I thought they were actually going to run into me at one point. And the clustermug of boats in the harbor trying to watch the race was a very dangerous obstacle course of inattentive and incompetent helmsmen. I was lucky to make it to my mooring. I had to motor about 2 miles out of my way to get there.

Factor · 18-10-2012, 06:39

Shock Horror - and in other news an F1 race car had a crash.

These things are the most spectacular race boats of all time. I am so looking forward to the first modern America's Cup.

**Blue Stocking** · 18-10-2012, 06:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiason

I think the America's Cup has gone from a great yachting event to anthoer version of NASCAR....

..

They are all fighting for the viewer, in order to keep their sponsors.

Next year, NASCAR's Grand-Am is combining with Panoz's American Le Mans sreies because the spectators are too diluted.

**rtbates** · 18-10-2012, 06:57

Why is anyone surprised when racing on the edge results in accidents.. The edge is a real tiny slippery slope..

Good news, like any cat worth it's salt, it didn't sink..

**sarafina** · 18-10-2012, 07:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiason

I think the America's Cup has gone from a great yachting event to anthoer version of NASCAR....

The boats are extreme... Too extreme for the San Francisco Bay and it's winds.

You would NOT be the only one with that opinion. The issue of unsuitability of the chosen vessel for the venue has been an interesting topic around here for a while. the crash of the big boat seemed kinda pre-ordained.

When you look at the boats that have been designed for the bay they are the antithesis of the 72's.

When I was learning to sail in Panama and talking to a friend who was about as salty as they get, he asked how much experience I had sailing the bay.

My bay sailing in college had been on an 18' sail/trailer, on nice days.

He just chuckled and told me when I got back to the Bap Area I would have a lifetime of learning and that The San Francisco Bay offers some of the most challenging sailing in the world within sight of land.

When 20 knots and a light bay breeze bury your bow, flip you and tear you to pieces... to the tune of 7mil...

well, as cool as it has been watching the 45's, maybe the 72's are not such a good idea. We saw the second 72 coming out of the stable yesterday when we were on the way to the marina and wondered if her fate would eventually be the same as her sister ship's.

These craft are such attenuated, delicate things. Like odd insects that live only in vary small eco-niches....

**boatman61** · 18-10-2012, 07:46

LOL.... or is it a 'Promo' stunt gone badly wrong...
Oracle 2 I think it was did something similar in Cascais last year... got a lotta coverage...

**Southern Star** · 18-10-2012, 08:05

Pushing the design/construction envelope on America's Cup boats is hardly new - it was not that long ago that one of the 12 metre boats split in two and sank during testing and, if I am not mistaken, that was in fairly benign conditions off San Diego. I think that the comparison to Formula 1 racing is quite apt: the late Colin Chapman of Lotus fame once opined that, in desiging and building a race car, one should keep removing weight until it breaks and then add strength (and weight) only sufficient to keep it together.

Anyway, it should make for very exciting viewing and, unlike around the world races where it can be difficult if not impossible to save the crew of a boat that goes down in the Southern Ocean, at least in these events they are always near the shore and various potential rescue craft.

Brad

**barnakiel** · 18-10-2012, 09:50

I think the new boats and the new format are the best thing for the event over last 5 years or so.

With the boats being monotype the win will be once again established on the water rather than in court.

The thing is as soon as the French get going, they will grab the trophy and keep it until the US team sues them.

b.

gpshephe · 18-10-2012, 10:26

The men in the rigging do look like insects a bit.

**Cheechako** · 18-10-2012, 10:50

Yeah, this is going to be one exciting series on SF bay with cats! I love it.

gpshephe · 18-10-2012, 10:55

I'm curious. Is team Oracle a US entry? Or an Australian entry? Why does everyone have an Australian accent?

**Sailmonkey** · 18-10-2012, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpshephe

I'm curious. Is team Oracle a US entry? Or an Australian entry? Why does everyone have an Australian accent?

Oracle is the US entry, they've been training and racing the AC45 class as a precursor to the big one. Most of the crew of any of the campaigns are not from the country that they represent. The America's cup isn't like the Olympics, it's more about lawyers and really rich guys who like big boats and bragging rights. I am a huge fan nonetheless!