Blog Page – Page 19

September 19, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Control Systems

As important as daggerfoil shapes, the control systems on the AC Class race yachts will be key to winning the America’s Cup in 2017. The class rule prohibits computer controls, but there is no limit on systems to give the sailors information to help them decide what setting to use. Think of it like putting a mark on your jib sheet and a mark on the deck: trim the sheet so the two marks line up to get back to the setting that gave the best speed when you tested. Here’s a big difference: there is no limit on what the teams can do with their AC45x test boats. Remember the conspiracy theory in the Kiwi media during the 2013 Match in San Francisco? Supposedly Oracle had secretly installed a gyro controlled computerised flight control system from Boeing. While that was a crazy rumour, nothing prohibits them from installing an automatic flight control system on their AC45x test boat and recording how the system controls the boat’s flight. Then they can use that information to develop their sailing playbook and readouts for the sailors to use in fully manual mode on the race boat.

Shirley Robertson interviews designers at Artemis and Oracle, including an AirBus flight control systems specialist. Click here or on the image to go to Shirley’s interview.

September 19, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Bart’s Bash – Andrew Simpson Honoured in Global Regatta

Andrew “Bart” Simpson was killed on 9 May 2013 in a training accident on San Francisco Bay when Artemis Racing’s AC72 capsized and broke up. His friends, led by his Star boat Olympic Gold and Silver medal teammate, Iain Percy, set up the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation to encourage children and young people to sail. You can contribute here.

Thousands of people at hundreds of clubs around the world race in Bart’s Bash. Artemis Racing, SoftBank Team Japan and Oracle Team USA raced their AC45x test boats in Bermuda.

Video: Watch this interview of Andrew Simpson and Iain Percy at the 2013 UK Star Championships, sailed in a snowstorm.

Video: Iain Percy tells about Andrew Simpson’s personality and spirit.

Video: Listen to Grant Simmer, Tom Slingsby and Andrew Campbell talk about Bart in Oracle Team USA’s really wonderful video.

Contribute to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation here.

September 11, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Series Leaderboard Arithmetic

Land Rover BAR leads the series, 14 points ahead of Oracle Team USA and 17 ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand. These three teams have traded places at the top of the leaderboard all through the America’s Cup World Series. Remember that that top two teams in the series carry bonus points into next year’s round robin AC Qualifiers in Bermuda – two points for the series winner and one for the runner up. With one event left, in Fukuoka, Japan in November, the arithmetic says any of the three could win still win the series, but past performance says it’s unlikely either Oracle or the Kiwis can close the gap on BAR, who are likely to finish on top. With only three points separating them, Oracle and Team New Zealand will be battling for the remaining bonus point.

Chances for the other three teams are between slim and none. Team France is out of contention. Artemis cannot beat BAR and would need something close to a sweep of the regatta in Japan combined with a collapse by Oracle to grab second place. Unlikely. Team Japan has a mathematical chance, but the odds are very long. That said, all six teams need to fight for every remaining point – series standings will be used to break ties at the end of the round robin, when one challenger will be eliminated.

September 11, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Artemis Wins in Toulon, Oracle Struggles

The Côte d’Azur lived up to its name with warm sunshine for the racing just off Toulon’s beaches.

All teams had their Olympians back for the America’s Cup World Series in Toulon. 2016 Finn gold medalist Giles Scott, tactician on Land Rover BAR, got a podium finish after coming last in the first two races. Rio 49er gold medalist Peter Burling was back on the helm at Emirates Team New Zealand but finished the event next to last, their worst finish in the series. The Kiwis were outdone by Oracle, who finished dead last, with Tom Slingsby on the helm, replacing injured Jimmy Spithill. Not exactly the result Slingsby, the London 2012 Laser gold medalist, was hoping for. London gold and Rio silver 49er medalist Nathan Outteridge came out on top in Toulon, winning the light air regatta, thanks in large part to tactician Iain Percy finding pressure up and down the flukey course on both days. Percy has two Olympic golds and a silver in the Finn and Star. The fates were not kind to the home team. Franck Cammas and Groupama Team France were in second place for the regatta at the end of the first day and at the beginning of the final downwind leg of the regatta. The patchy conditions did them in as the Kiwis slipped past and bumped the French off the podium.

Bowmen? On an AC45?? Team Japan’s tactician Chris Draper, standing on the bowsprit in the light conditions, looked like the bowman on a big monohull. Artemis Racing’s Iain Percy spent most of the regatta straddling the bowsprit and looking for patches of pressure in the light conditions.

September 4, 2016 By Jack Griffin

Construction Progress in Bermuda

The project to build the America’s Cup Village in Dockyard’s South Basin is well advanced. The infill is complete and ready for paving – nine and a half acres, about 38,000 square meters. Thanks to Scott Stallard for these photos.