Many America's Cup fans say this is their best source of information.
“I have rights to room to tack or gybe!”
A special rule gives a boat rights to room to tack or to gybe when she is closer than three lengths from the course limits.
This video briefing shows what can happen near the course limits.
Rule20
Rule 20 applies between yachts when at least one of them is in the zone of a continuing
obstruction. When rule 20.1 or 20.2 apply 20.3 does not.
When yachts are approaching a continuing obstruction close-hauled or above and the
proper course for at least one is to tack, the outside or clear-astern yacht shall give the
inside or clear ahead yacht room to tack and sail her proper course or above while in the
zone of that continuing obstruction. When a yacht is taking room to which she is entitled
under this rule she shall be exonerated if she breaks rule 10.
After starting, when yachts are approaching a continuing obstruction on a downwind
course and the proper course for at least one is to gybe, the outside or clear astern yacht
shall give the inside or clear ahead yacht room to gybe and sail her proper course or below
while in the zone of that continuing obstruction. When a yacht is taking room to which she
is entitled under this rule she shall be exonerated if she breaks rule 10 or until she gybes
rule 11.
While yachts are passing a continuing obstruction, if a yacht that was clear astern and
required to keep clear becomes overlapped or bowsprit overlapped between the other
yacht and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap or bowsprit overlap begins, there
is not room for her to pass between them, she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b).
While the yachts remain overlapped or bowsprit overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules
10 and 11 do not apply.
AC45 fleet with wing extension – Naples, 15 April 2012
The extensions add four meters of height and 8.7 square meters of “sail” area – up high where it can provide the most power. The teams have sailed in up to 20 knots of wind with the extensions, with no problems. Expect to see the extensions used in Venice and Newport, where light air is likely.
http://youtu.be/PgLDoS9zqVI?hd=1&t=22m45s
AC45 spec sheet
AC45 catamaran data sheet – with wing extension
The wing extension weighs 30 kg and attaches with eight bolts in about 30 minutes, once the wing is on its trolleys, in the shop.
Luna Rossa launched – Naples Day 1
Did you see Matthew Sheahan‘s Yachting Worldblog post about the boat carnage in Naples on Day 1 of Racing (Wed 11 April 2012)? Matthew writes:
The first focus of attention was on Artemis’ wing which, after hitting the water trailing edge first in their spectacular nose dive capsize had been wrecked beyond repair, at least within the timeframe available during this regatta.
He then quotes ACRM CEO and regatta director Iain Murray:
“It will take around 200 hours to fix the wing,” said Murray, “so I guess that’s around 20,000 Euros.”
But as the assembled journalists started to suck their teeth in surprise, Murray was quick to put the cost in perspective.
“To be honest we’re more concerned about the onboard camera that fell off their bowsprit, that’s worth 40,000 Euros.“It’s down there somewhere and if anybody knows where it is we’d like to have it back,” he joked.
Well, Iain, maybe I can help. Your GPS data tells you exactly where the boats were. I can tell you exactly when the camera fell off: While watching the race, I saw it fall off, well before the capsize. Watch this video:
http://youtu.be/8G3kN44AGZY?t=31m50s
31:50 Helicopter shot of Artemis approaching the left hand mark boat at the leeward gate.
31:56 Closeup of Artemis approaching the gate, 44 seconds after Spithill rounded.
32:02 The diagonal cable from the starboard hull to the bowsprit takes two shocks as the strut below the bowsprit hits waves and the camera falls off the bowsprit!
Too bad I didn’t find the exact moment in the replay until today – the weather is so rough today that racing has been cancelled and the waves probably stirred up the bottom and moved the sunken treasure of the €40,000 camera!
Tuesday 10 April 2012 – training day in Naples. Bright skies and winds 10-12 knots. The Maltese Falcon is in town and makes an impressive backdrop for the AC45s out for some training.Energy Team, Korea Team and Maltese Falcon on Naples Training Day