Americas Cup

[henryf]

Had a run out to watch the racing yesterday.


Busy. Very busy, but good to be part of the occasion.

Not so inviting today !

Henry

 

[henryf]

Just seen that racing has been cancelled for today.

Such a shame. Presumably outside the wind envelope for the boats.

Henry

 

[darrenw]

Such a shame. We watched yesterday's races from the Spinnaker Tower...

Although I did have an ulterior motive for being up there...!

 

[henryf]

H.

 

[henryf]

Some pictures:

Henry

 

[henryf]

Henry

 

[Solitaire]

For those that could not get out today. Yesterday was special with the J Class boats out as well.

http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/5_Star_Marine/slideshow/America%20Cup

 

[z1ppy]

Great pictures Henry.

Couldn't get myself motivated to get out yesterday, mostly due to a monster case of jet lag but also because i need some calm warm weather to rebuild SWMBO's confidence and yesterday was not looking like that sort of day!

really great photos and added to the TV Coverage, nice to see high profile racing on the telly!

 

[adey]

Just seen that racing has been cancelled for today.

Such a shame. Presumably outside the wind envelope for the boats.

Henry

When they raced in Plymouth Sound a few years ago it was also blowing a hoolie on the Sunday but they raced anyway. Good fun to watch.

 

[henryf]

Holy sh1t.

I now see why they weren't keen to run today.

Lightweight and powerful = very 3 dimensional .

Henry

 

[rafiki_]

Nice pics H.
Horrible day up here in the far north, and was hoping to see some of the racing on BT Sport, bit watched the cycling instead.

 

[DAKA]

Some pictures:

Some nice Boats out

 

[prv]

Lightweight and powerful = very 3 dimensional .

Certainly lightweight - the whole boat and rig weighs 1300kg. Some of you lot probably have engines that size

Pete

 

[andy59]

Some nice Boats out

HaHa , I thought that boat looked familiar , also spotted at lymington the other day
Great photos as usual Henry , thanks for posting .

 

[epervier]

Henry

Is this sailing or low flying?

 

[mjf]

Yep, busy. But IIRC it was busier when we took part in the Spithead Review (in 2005?).

We cruised over on Thursday and it was busy then before the event had started - loads of marshall boats and the LNTM made it clear what was 'open' and what was resistricted etc.
Watched a bit from Southsea on Friday practice and ditto from Stokes bay area too- busy ashore

Fab atmosphere - shame the eurofighter and red arrows both no shows.
Nice w/e dispite crap Wx.

 

[prv]

the LNTM made it clear what was 'open' and what was resistricted etc.

It was certainly clear, but in practice it didn't happen . The event was the better for it too, and I don't think there were any problems.

Pete

 

[henryf]

It was certainly clear, but in practice it didn't happen . The event was the better for it too, and I don't think there were any problems.

Pete

I thought the restrictions were policed pretty accurately bar the North West corner which was supposed to be limited to "VIP" boats.

The ferries did well to avoid everyone, we purposely avoided the Swashway approach to help keep the harbour entrance open.

The large cross channel ferries and other port traffic adapted their movements to avoid problems. One held off until the racing boats and associated rabble (that's us ), had cleared the entrance.

I thought QHM did a magnificent job even down to wishing BAR good luck as the last of the support boats crossed over into the Camber basin. The harbour Wombles got a bit flustered at one point when boats were crossing over to the Camber without asking, QHM took it all in their stride and basically said don't worry providing there is no risk.

The exclusion zone was enforced a little beyond the planned times on account of the air display, regular updates on CH11.


Henry

 

[prv]

I thought the restrictions were policed pretty accurately bar the North West corner which was supposed to be limited to "VIP" boats.

Ah, right, well that's where we were so that's all we saw .

Our plan was to anchor just to the northwest of the Swashway, to the west of the charted "No Anchoring" line. All in accordance with the rules, but I hadn't allowed for the low-lying nature of the small boat (Ariam is down in Cornwall, bringing her back next week) and how much that limits your view. Once we realised that there was a scrum of ordinary folks between the Swashway and the course boundary, we picked up the anchor and bimbled over, where we could see much better. Very glad they didn't bother to enforce that bit

As you say, I think all the on-water side was handled very well.

Pete

 

[DAKA]

I was amazed how sensible everyone was, as we approached the harbough exit I couldnt see a clear safe route in or out however everyone I saw was at tick over so the jam just moved out in one.

Thanks for the photo Henry , sorry I didn't spot you or I wold have waived.

The only danger I saw all day were two idiots sailing two single sail hydrofoils in this southern spectator area.
It was obvious there wasn't any room to manoeuvre but they both sailed in amongest the crowd and capsized.

Anyone who has sailed a dinghy knows how unpredictable a boats track is once righted and there simply wasn't enough room for them to get up.......twasocks !!! (if i can I borrow that from Dylan).