[brian eiland]

They have a strange look:

http://www.sail-world.com/europe/Americas-Cup-Spycam---latest-images---Fitting-the-Boards/58725

But how do they work ?

This foil in the leeward hull can fulfill two tasks: horizontal/vertical lift or lateral lift.

In "normal" position the foil is a common bananafoil for generating vertical
lift like those of BMW Oracle. In this mode the upper part of the foil (that one
going in the other direction) is above the deck.

The secret ,or call it trick, is that the daggerboard-case is hinged to the hull`s bottom and goes NOT to deck level. Where the case is hinged ,one can see a rectangular area, similiar to those of canting keels.

Pushing now the foil further down , means that the daggerboard- foilcase angles it`s top towards windward, angling the bananafoil more vertical for generating more lateral lift.

The upper part of the foil never enters the daggerboard-case, you can see it on the red uphaul/downhaul rope on the pic. The upper part is guided by a slot in the deck.

A very clever invention I think.
Pogo (Germany)

[84far]

Pascal i agree in many ways, but disagree in more ways... Formula 1 got to a point where the races were won or lost at the start, and the race became boring... to much technology... now the FIA took away aero and elcetronic aids and gone back to basics, the racing is now great.

Americas Cup is now going down the same path. there will be no more pre race dual, tacking duals, mark/buoy traps. its now a fleet race with 2 boats.... boring.... what small teams are going to think of those foils.... none!

anybody ever watch the Volvo 70's doing the harbour races... thats awesome, there chucking the boats around like there dinghys. the ACC need to do something similar in the 80' range.

even Paul Cayard thinks the ACC is now a fast. and the V70 will take over in the popularity contest.


far

[brian eiland]

Nigel Irens is one of the world's most renowned multihull designers, having been responsible for the design of several record breaking trimarans such as, Ellen MacArthur's B&Q-Castorama, Thomas Colville's Sodeb'O and Francis Joyon's solo Round the World record holder IDEC. More recently, Nigel was a consultant to the Alinghi design team.

He has been talking to BYM News editor, Marian Martin, about some features of the Deed of Gift protagonists, starting with the catamaran v trimaran differences.

Nigel Irens: Essentially both boats take the loads on a central structure. On the Oracle boat that structure is a hull that floats in the water when the vessel is at rest; Alinghi has chosen not to put the envelope of a hull around that structure, so clearly it mustn’t be allowed to touch the water, because that wouldn’t do a lot for the speed, because of the drag from the tips of the struts that come down. So that’s why the longitudinal vessel structure has to be held quite high in the air and the mast step, which is on it, is quite a bit higher than on the Oracle boat.

So how does this change things? There’s a fundamental difference, at this point between trimaran and catamaran configuration. Because Alinghi’s central structure is above the surface of the water, when the boat starts sailing it doesn’t have to heel very much in order for the windward hull to come out of the water, only a few degrees. Obviously, both boats are going to be sailed on one hull, most of the time, and as the Oracle centre hull is floating you have to heel that boat a lot further to get that hull out of the water. That is a point you can consider to be in favour of the choice made by Alinghi, because when the Oracle boat is on one hull, the windward hull is really quite high in the air and the higher it gets the faster moving air passes over it, so there really is quite a bit of aerodynamic drag there, which won’t be the case with Alinghi. So that’s one plus for Alinghi; on the other hand Oracle, has built a hull that has quite a lot of rocker on it, which is consistent with the needs of the structure because you want the beam to be fat in the middle and thin at the ends, and that is actually quite a good shape for tacking. As the boat comes through the tack, or gybe and the power comes off the main hull lands back in the water and, because it’s a rockered shape like that the main hull is quite good at turning. So, I anticipate that the Oracle boat would be quicker through a tack. Obviously, that’s a strategic position; the legs of the race are long and, on paper there’s not a lot of tacking to be done. On the other hand, if the two boats are very similar in speed, which I think is quite possible, then they could get into a tacking duel. If one boat thought they were faster at tacking than the other they would probably look for a tacking duel in order to exploit that advantage. On the other hand, there is a motor to power the Alinghi deck, so that may make up for a boat that is perhaps not as easy to tack as Oracle.

One aspect I find very interesting is that we are absolutely not privy to what the Oracle boat weighs and, if we find the boats are quite similar in weight, then I believe we will find they are quite similar in speed and that, contrary to first speculation some time ago, there might be much more of a race here than we thought. I was imagining that one boat would be faster than the other and that would be the end of it and rather boring from a racing point of view. Now, unless the Oracle boat has come out way overweight, which we don’t know, then it could be a lot closer than was first anticipated.

...more HERE

[Pascal]

and just when you thought the dust might have settled down and the lawyers could take the summer off, they're all heading back to court next week...

If Oracle allegations are true, shame on Alinghi!

http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ggy...nal-071409.pdf

[brian eiland]

..courtesy of Scuttlebutt

Stored power… that is what all the fuss is about. Alinghi wants to use it, but is not yet ready to disclose the rules that would permit it. Too much time would give BOR the opportunity to create their own system. The fact is that Alinghi, because she is a catamaran, may have to use stored power to be competitive. Here are some comments on the subject from esteemed multihull sailor and designer Pete Melvin of Morrelli & Melvin:

“On the Alinghi cat, it appears that they are going with hydraulic winches and some hydraulic cylinders for other controls such as shrouds, forestays, and possibly mainsheet.

“I have done some quick weight calculations and think that if you added an internal combustion engine, hydraulic fluid reservoir and fluid, hydraulic pump, and hydraulic control system and piping but then eliminated winch pedestals and six 200 lb grinders, that you would save about 400 lb. A downside to this (stored power system) is that the weight of the grinders is movable, whereas the weight of the hydraulics is fixed. You can always add more bodies to increase righting moment.

“Having powered winches is more important on a cat with Alinghi's configuration because a lot of the sheets and control lines need to be lead to the windward side. You end up with some winch and hardware redundancy since this hardware needs to be located on both sides of the boat. Then there is the issue with space to place pedestals and grinders. With powered winches, you save the cockpit or deck space and associated structural weight that would be needed to support pedestals and grinders.

“Then of course there is the advantage that the engine does not get tired and could be sized to provide more power and faster trimming than humans.

“On a trimaran with a central cockpit, you do not have winch and hardware redundancies as on a catamaran, but the boat could be sailed more efficiently if you were able to trim the sails faster. Imagine if you were sailing your Tornado catamaran and could only move the mainsheet at the rate of six inches per minute. You would need to do a lot more steering to keep the boat in the groove and you would not be able to sail as aggressively in puffy conditions. Maneuvers would also take a lot longer!

Note the engine compartment off the rear crossbeam of Alinghi 5. Photo by Stefano Gattini/Alinghi.

[brian eiland]

America's Cup: Alinghi 5 sails for the first time on Lake Geneva
Monday, 20 July 2009
(courtesy BYM news)

The Swiss America’s Cup Defender, Alinghi, hoisted the sails on its giant new catamaran Alinghi 5 for the first time today on Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The 90ft multihull was cheered off the dock at midday by hundreds of spectators watching the maiden sail out of Le Bouveret.

Murray Jones, who is running the initial trials of the giant multihull that represents a first step in the development process towards the 33rd America’s Cup, gave his comments on a good first day on the water: “We went out this morning with a list of objectives to work through: testing the boat, checking the structure, doing some manoeuvres and seeing if the sails would all sheet and it went pretty well; we ticked off just about everything. There are a lot of systems on the boat that are complicated and new, but it was fantastic. To fly the boat upwind and downwind with gennaker was awesome for the first day of sailing. The boat is a tribute to the designers and the boat builders. To deliver a boat of this complexity that works straight out of the box on the first day is impressive; really impressive.”

Flying a hull on a vessel this big, and on first day outing....that is impressive

[brian eiland]

video, first day
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid2561124001?bclid=23754231001&bctid=3009006600 1

[Pascal]

Today could also be judgment day in NY with the contempt motion set for hearing....

fantastic pictures and video though.

[brian eiland]

Lest we forget these beautiful photos of the big trimaran competitor, i offer this cross-link:

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/ge...-trimaran.html

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Pascal

Today could also be judgment day in NY with the contempt motion set for hearing...

One can't help but admire the spin each camp has put on today's judgment.

If you read only the statement from Brad Butterworth, Alinghi's team skipper, you'd think they won in court today:

It's good that Justice Kornreich denied the Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) request to hold the America's Cup defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), in contempt of court, but it doesn't come as a surprise because there were no grounds for such an action.

Justice Kornreich showed a great deal of knowledge of the file and the case and while she reserved her decision, she made it crystal clear that the provisions of the Deed of Gift put no restriction on yacht design. She also asked both sides to return to the mediation that the GGYC halted with this new litigation attempt.

We are ready and willing to continue discussions with them and will work on providing clarity with regards the 33rd America's Cup as far as rules and measurement procedures go; always within the framework of the Deed of Gift and SNG's rules. We are determined to get the competition on the water and out of the courtroom once and for all.

On the other hand, if you read the statement from Tom Ehmen (BMW Oracle Racing) you would think they won, despite Alinghi not being found in contempt:

We are pleased that the Court will provide clarity on the rules before we complete our challenging vessel for America's Cup 33.

The Court reserved her decision whether an engine and moveable ballast can be used.

Justice Kornreich understood that we need to know the rules before we can complete our challenging vessel and then submit our Custom House Registry (CHR).

The Defender was compelled to turn over to the Court the secret agreement with International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

On questioning from the Court, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) agreed to return to mediation, a process we have supported throughout our challenge.

We look forward to Justice Kornreich's decision in the next few weeks, and to racing for the America's Cup in February 2010.

I especially liked the part where Brad talks about "the mediation that the GGYC halted with this new litigation attempt" while Tom mentions that "Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) agreed to return to mediation, a process we have supported throughout our challenge".

[brian eiland]

AMERICA’S CUP SURVEY - SHOULD STORED POWER BE ALLOWED?
The America's Cup teams returned to court Tuesday (July 21st), and among the issues were the rules for the 33rd America’s Cup, specifically whether sections of the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing would be modified to allow for non-manual power to be used for sail trim and other adjustments. The importance of this issue is a result of the America’s Cup defender Alinghi launching their defense catamaran with an engine to power their hydraulic control system. Here are quotes from Bernie Wilson’s AP story:

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi:
“We're moving things hydraulically. The loads on this boat are just horrendous. A, it's difficult to gear up for something like that, and B, I think it's safer to have that system, where you don't have so many people cluttering the whole boat, and it makes life a little bit safer for the guys that are sailing the boat. The Cup for me has always been a design race. Now, it's an unlimited design race. This is the most interesting design Cup that's ever been, I think, because there's just no parameters. You can do what you want.”

Russell Coutts, BMW Oracle Racing:
“An engine in an America's Cup boat? If that's permitted, it will change the game forever, I think, the wrong way. I don't think I'm alone on that one. I think without doing a survey, I bet the vast majority of people would be against that. The big boats, the big loads, that's part of the physical challenge of sailing any of the Cup boats I've sailed on. If you take that aspect out, you're changing the game dramatically.”

The complexity of the issue also involves how the Deed of Gift stipulates that the America’s Cup is to be run using the defense club’s rules and regulations, which approved only manual power in 2007 (when the challenge was issued) and 2008 but dismissed this rule for 2009.

Assuming that the 2009 rules prevail…what do you think… should the
America’s Cup allow for stored power to help sail the boats? Vote here:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/09/0721/

[brian eiland]

From Anarchist GMT in the America's Cup Anarchy Forum.

OK, I could go on about the fact that while Ellison hides behind a desk and his crew hide behind helmets, Bertarelli builds an amazing boat, skippers it himself (sans helmet), and flies the hull the first day out. Come on! Anybody with an ounce of personal pride and a love of sailing (hold on a minute, I'll get to the engine), and especially multihulls has to love that balls-to-the wall, in-your-face response by EB. This has to be point to EB by any rational assessment.

I could also go on and on about the stupid Indian, all the idiots that have a name starting with H and all you other blind rabid BMWO supporters that can't see past the nose on your face and spin victory out of defeat. You created and supported a stacked deed and deck that now works against you. You wanted the engine gone, said it was going to have to go ,and instead it stays. To be so wrong so often and to have to spend so much time spinning victory from defeat must leave no time for work. How do you do it?

But, no, this post is not about either of these things. This post is about the engine and why while I originally thought it a bad idea, I now think it's good. And I don't mean good for the AC, or good for LE or EB or either of the teams; I mean good for the multihull cause.

You see, I love multihulls. They are without a doubt the most efficient (ie best) way to take what nature gives and travel over the water. The designs approach art and the sensation of sailing them approaches flying while monohulls are more like plowing. I do not hate monhulls (indeed race on some) but multis have always been the fastest, most pretty beasts on the water.

But the monhull crowd wanted what we had so they first went to sportboats with crew hiking like fools to stay up-right and then when they wanted more they decided to cheat. They put engines on their boats to sling a windward hull they call a canting keel across the bottom of their hull. They quickly trim their sails with powered winches. Powered only by man and the wind went out the window much to my dismay. The results, though a bit smelly if downwind, are impressive when they are not sinking as in the the next to last Volvo. Indeed, designs have improved and the cheater boats do amazing things. They are becoming - dare I say it - multihull like in their abilities. The gap has narrowed. BUT THEY DO THIS BY CHEATING THE CODE OF POWERED BY MAN AND THE WIND ONLY.

Well, for me this is not about the man - EB or LE. I say its time the multihulls show what we can do with an unlimited budget and unconstrained rules. Sure I will always prefer to own and sail without a power assist but at the same time I want to see what an all out, balls-to-the-wall multihull would be like. I want to see speeds and designs that will make a VO70 look like a model T Ford.

So I say thanks to the NY courts. I can't wait to see the multis that get built and what they can do.

[Pascal]

good article...

I'm on the fence about the engine... yes it is a departure from "conventional" racing but it will stretch the enveloppe a bit.

what is objectionable is how alinghi changed the rules so late in the game. tehy designed their boat with ballast and hydraulics while BMWO was left in the dark

btw... I wonder how long BMW is going to remain on board after AC33, they announced today that they are pulling the plug on their formula 1 team.

[Hardmy]

I see Alinghi every days passing Montreux where I live. This boat has incredible speed even with very few wind.

Here are some pictures before first lauching. At this time they seemed to have some problems with the engine.

If somebody is also in the Geneva lake region just PM me.

[brian eiland]

Originally Posted by Hardmy

Here are some pictures before first lauching. At this time they seemed to have some problems with the engine.

Wecome Hardmy. Please keep us up to date with the 'local' gossip and photos.
Thanks