Iain C
Well-Known Member
FFS!!!!!!!! Just let them get on with it!!!
Americas Cup - thrilling racing at last
- Thread starter dunedin
- Start date
A1Sailor
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Since the wind limits were introduced following discussions about safety after the death of Andrew Simpson that would be either brave or foolhardy.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Given that Hollywood ain't that far away can we now expect an amazing comeback - eight wins on the trot - from the US, skippered by tousle-headed kid with freckles and a gap-toothed smile?
"Aw shucks, t'weren't nothin'. Jus' a few tricks ma ol' granpappy taught me on his shrimpin' boat down on the bayou."
"Aw shucks, t'weren't nothin'. Jus' a few tricks ma ol' granpappy taught me on his shrimpin' boat down on the bayou."
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GrahamD
Well-Known Member
Made me laugh. However it would not sound so convincing delivered with an Aussie accent.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
I thought there was only one american on the boat - and it sure ain't James Spithill.
Of course when holywood makes the movies they will all be american, and the challenger will be crewed by british people who are undoubtedly cheating in every conceivable way
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I thought there was only one american on the boat - and it sure ain't James Spithill.
Of course when holywood makes the movies they will all be american, and the challenger will be crewed by british people who are undoubtedly cheating in every conceivable way
There WAS only one American on the boat, but they chucked him off and replaced him with the Brit, I believe.
A1Sailor
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Cunning - it won't be America that loses the cup then!
davidej
Well-Known Member
It must really be galling for the Kiwis to have two races cancelled just when the had got the better of the start and were first at next mark.
I remember posting that sailing will never be a spectator sport. This has proved me wrong - for the TV audience anyway, I don't think you would see much of it from the shore.
I remember posting that sailing will never be a spectator sport. This has proved me wrong - for the TV audience anyway, I don't think you would see much of it from the shore.
boguing
Well-Known Member
Whatever the outcome, Oracle has been a different boat with Ainslie on board, and Oracle will be kicking themselves for not knowing that they should have used him from the outset.
Davidej, I actually hoped that it would get better, but there have been so many false dawns that I too was dubious. It is very good.
Davidej, I actually hoped that it would get better, but there have been so many false dawns that I too was dubious. It is very good.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Jimmy Cuthill hit the nail on the head when asked why they were slower than ETNZ - time spent together on the boat.
ETNZ developed their teamwork throughout the LV cup and are as slick as can be.
Oracle had plenty if time to practice against their sister boat but that doesn't give the same competitive edge
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
I'm not so sure that Ainslie made the difference. He has not made any big mistakes, but then he hasn't pulled any genius tactical moves out of the bag either. A few tweaks to the boat and learning better how to handle the transitions seemed to have had the biggest impact.
Giblets
Well-Known Member
5 mins before the Youtube feed starts, folks. 
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Hells teeth. They'd better get this all done tomorrow cause I'm not going to be able to watch afterwards.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!
RAI
Well-Known Member
This could go on for a few more days before the tides shift enough.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Maybe the team dynamics are better with Ainslie on board. I too have struggled to see any tactical master strokes, because the tacks are so slow the boats rarely cover, the tactical options seem limited. We are lucky to see more than one tactical move on the starts, the need for boat speed is so great that it dominates all. There is of course no downwind sailing so there's no spinnaker hoists and drops either. Still very thrilling and probably the best yacht race coverage ever seen on TV.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
It seems to be more about Oracle finding more boat speed rather than better tactics.
Initially Oracle won all the starts but got overtaken upwind. Now they seem to have at least as good boat speed as TNZ. What optimisations they have done, other than removing the weight of the code zero pole is not clear, or perhaps they have found better settings for the wing trim. Either or both, the speed difference seems to have reversed slightly
Initially Oracle won all the starts but got overtaken upwind. Now they seem to have at least as good boat speed as TNZ. What optimisations they have done, other than removing the weight of the code zero pole is not clear, or perhaps they have found better settings for the wing trim. Either or both, the speed difference seems to have reversed slightly
Iain C
Well-Known Member
Perhaps they took the extra lead out?
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Compared to a week ago, switching to Ainslie seems to have eliminated some pretty basic strategic mistakes they had been making.
Oracle also seemed to have improved their boat handling - they seem more stable when foiling than they were.
Oracle also seemed to have improved their boat handling - they seem more stable when foiling than they were.
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
I'm still going to say it, I just think Oracle likes more breeze. True having Ainslie on board does seem to have stopped them from performing the same mistakes they kept making at the beginning but the wind has been nearly five knots greater since he's been on board as well.
At that level of sailing any tweaks to the boat and any improvements in teamwork would be negligible despite what the commentators say.
At that level of sailing any tweaks to the boat and any improvements in teamwork would be negligible despite what the commentators say.