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Artemis Racing lost no time testing the new “Big Blue” AC72. On their first day of sailing they powered up in 15 knots of breeze and showed stable hydrofoiling.
“Today could not have gone any better. It was a perfect day and exactly what our team needed,” said helmsman Nathan Outteridge. “We got the boat on the water and foiling and we’re happy with how it was foiling… It’s a massive tribute to all the guys who have been working so hard to get us back out there.”
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Emirates Team New Zealand has dominated all three races against Luna Rossa.
Emirates Team New Zealand continues to dominate their races with Luna Rossa. On Saturday 21 July they powered to a 7 minute 14 second win. This is the second time in three races that ETNZ has finished more than five minutes ahead, meaning that once again, Luna Rossa was scored DNF (did not finish).
ETNZ has shown flawless crew work. Their choreography during maneuvers on the race course shows the result of all having sailed their AC72 more days than any other team. They also set up in their gym a full scale model of their boat layout, complete with trampoline. They have drilled every sailor’s role in every maneuver. When their jib let go and started in flogging in their second race against Luna Rossa they quickly mastered the situation with little drama. They kept their lead while sorting out the problem, then extended once the pesky jib was thrown overboard.
Luna Rossa has not come close, even when ETNZ had an equipment failure. Artemis has scored high emotionally by getting their boat on the water and into action, but barring massive breakdowns on the Kiwi boat, they have little chance of taking a race from ETNZ, much less winning the seven races needed to win the Louis Vuitton Cup final. And, of course they would first need to beat their presumed opponent Luna Rossa in the semi-final. That leaves Oracle Team USA…
Although they have not lined up with ETNZ, they clearly have speed. Their second boat looks fast, powerful and stable on the foils. And, they have two extra months to refine their crew work while two-boat training. So, the question could just as easily be, can anyone beat Oracle Team USA? Find out in September in the best of 17 race America’s Cup Match. Will ETNZ win 9-0? Will OTUSA win 9-0? Or will we have a knock down, drag out heavyweight slugfest that goes the full 17 rounds? Be there!
You will see a lot of OTUSA in house racing and training leading up to the America’s Cup Match. Learn to tell their AC72’s apart and impress your friends with your expert knowledge!
After destroying their first wing in October 2012 when they pitchpoled and were washed out the Golden Gate on the tide, OTUSA has built two more wings. Wing 2 is installed in the repaired Boat 1. Boat 2 has Wing 3. Got that? Tell the two OTUSA AC72s apart, look closely at…
AC72 boat 1 has its daggerboards forward of the main beam. On boat 2 they are aligned with the main beam. One of the ribs in the wing on AC72 boat 1 is slightly thicker – just above the PUMA logo.
Unlike all the other teams’ AC72’s, OTUSA has no diagonal rods. Their AC72 design emphasizes low aerodynamic drag. Some of the structure is hidden in a “pod” that extends the wing’s effect below the boat. On AC72 boat 1, the pod is bigger and there are two vertical struts. AC72 boat 2 has a smaller pod and only one strut. The smaller pod does not block the helmsman’s view of the leeward hull the way the big pod on AC72 boat 1 does. You may hear the struts called by the more colorful but politically incorrect term “dolphin striker.”
Coming soon – a look at all the teams’ AC72’s and differences among them. Any questions? Use the Ask Jack page to send them my way.
Staying up on the hydrofoils is the key to speed in this America’s Cup. And crew work is key to staying on the foils. Emirates Team New Zealand gave a stunning demonstration on San Francisco Bay on Tuesday 9 July, once again hitting a top speed over 40 knots and staying over 30 knots through the gybes!
Interviewed on TV during the race, Murray Jones of Oracle Team USA admired the Kiwis’ boat handling but pointed out that the two teams are on different schedules. OTUSA is still focused on straight line speed rather than maneuvers. They have done flying gybes but not consistently. OTUSA doesn’t race until September, and Murray seemed confident they would be ready.
Emirates Team New Zealand sailed over the America’s Cup race course alone twice. On Sunday 7July Luna Rossa boycotted the race because of their “ruddergate” protest. Artemis Racing’s AC72 is not ready and did not race on Tuesday 9 July.
Emirates Team New Zealand put on a stunning display of hydrofoiling speed and precision crew work. Their AC72 catamaran sped over the full America’s Cup course on San Francisco Bay, with a top speed over 42 knots. The flood tide going with the wind meant the water was smooth. Windspeed in the mid teens was ideal.