Kukri
Well-Known Member
I’ve also changed my mind about the boats. I’ve become enthusiastic about the concept; for the first time (ever, I think) yacht racing is making good television.
INEOS AC 2-0
- Thread starter Ningaloo
- Start date
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Bobc
Well-Known Member
Me too.
Laser310
Well-Known Member
I don't find the racing to be very close generally.., or particularly tactical.
Nevertheless, it is fun to watch.
When I heard of the concept, three years ago, I never thought the boats would perform as well as they do - they are a technological marvel.
I think if the class continues for another cup cycle, there is a chance for closer racing, and more tactical racing - because it is likely that the speed and reliability differences will narrow.
I think part of the problem is the narrow courses - I think it leads to less tactical racing, not more tactical racing. It would be great if they would do some trial races with the boats on courses with no boundaries, just to see how the racing works out.
RJJ
Well-Known Member
Or a bit of variety...how about a reaching leg or two to see them at top speed? That would add some control challenges too.
Otherwise, I like the channels; forcing 3-5 tacks and gybes makes the boats come together and creates the tactical situations.
Laser310
Well-Known Member
i understand the argument..., but disagree...
in general even though the boats are bouncing back and forth off the boundaries as if they are in pinball machines, they are generally not engaging with each other - they are not close enough.
with the narrow course, its not that important to cover the boat behind, if they go off on the other tack - they can't get that far away.., and the leverage created is quite limited. low leverage=low opportunity to gain from a windshift. Many times we have seen the boat ahead elect not to tack/gybe to cover - it's just not that important. If the courses extended to the laylines, the leverage available would be huge.., and covering would be much more important.
I Think that with these boats it's not easy to predict how the racing will change if we change the course - perhaps I am wrong..,, but a few exhibition races with no boundaries would be an interesting experiment
flaming
Well-Known Member
Don't agree with this. In my opinion the actual racing has been full of covering moves and lee bow tacks etc. Way, way more than we ever saw with the cats certainly.
The issue with the boundaries is the spectator fleet. In the old lead mines you could let the spectator fleet onto the course to an extent as they could be marshalled out of the way as the boats approached. With foiling boats you can't do this, so if you didn't have any boundaries you'd need to clear an absolutely massive course. And you'd almost certainly get both boats one tacking the beat. At least the boundaries force them to do something,
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
I hope the winners, whoever they are, win by one point.
Enjoy all of it, but trying to judge the starts at those speeds is just great to see.
Enjoy all of it, but trying to judge the starts at those speeds is just great to see.
Laser310
Well-Known Member
why?
if you were the boat behind.., would you just follow the lead boat out to the corner?
of course not.., you'd tack.., and the lead boat would cover.., because they _can't_ let you get 1/2 mile, or whatever, of leverage..
the tacking penalty on these boats is not huge - not as big as with the cats
also.., there are the potential problems associated being too early on the layline - you get a lift.., and the boat inside you is all of a sudden laying, and sailing a shorter distance.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Don't think that we all expected what happened today.
Looks like LR have a fast boat in any conditions . Just hope that UK can make some kind of change , perhaps foils,
or whatever to make a game of it.
Looks like LR have a fast boat in any conditions . Just hope that UK can make some kind of change , perhaps foils,
or whatever to make a game of it.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
I think it’s over.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
Probably woken the Team NZ camp up a bit.
Perhaps the matches with AM and LR masked how big the gains were. Got to hand it to them though.
E39mad
Well-Known Member
Luna Rosa appeared to have better upwind angles in the last round of racing - now that they have added boat speed and less errors into the mix Ineos certainly has it's work cut out. No shifting wind for Giles to take advantage of so just a boat speed race. It's still doable especially if the breeze builds but advantage Italy,
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Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
I suspect the real reason for course area limits is to allow spectator boats to get close enough to actually see something.
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
I'm optimistically putting it down to Ben having a bad day. In R2 he had a perfect opportunity for a lee bow tack after the start and didn't take it.
Laser310
Well-Known Member
I think the best way to look at it is that there was really only one race, as the first was a complete joke, and being down one race isn't necessarily the end.
FWB
N/A
I just wish that the Kiwi commentator,Stephen, would shut up.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Mozzysails
Kurrawong_Kid
Well-Known Member
Yes, I thought LR was closer winded and going faster too.
Bobc
Well-Known Member
In race 2, the only difference in performance I could see was a small speed advantage upwind. The Ineos guys later confirmed that they had the wrong jib on which was increasing drag and slowing them down upwind.
It ain't over until......
It ain't over until......