BOR 90 - proposed America's Cup entry

[Ron]

Ellison says he will go back to a monohull based multi challenger format if he wins the cup back in February. I don't see how he can just throw this technology away. The AC racers were very fast, but these things are unbelievable. They are going to have to extend the course by a factor of at least 5 to 1 - otherwise it will be over in less than 10 minutes. Maybe they should invite everyone to show up in multi-hulls from now on?

[luigisante]

I have never understood the decision of America's cup promoters to keep the race primiarily 12 meter monohulls. Multihulls have been the state of the art in racing machines for a generation now.

Lou

[wingman]

It would be interesting to see if such fragile craft could last through the challenger's series and the finals. Even the monohulls are built to the edge. Remember, one sunk on the race course. still, these are much lighter and the longitudinal and transverse torques are probably quite large.

Plus, in a crossing situation, you are worrying about a 90-foot beam instead of probably a 15-20-foot beam. Makes the judgment very difficult. Closing speeds make it even worse!

It would be exciting!

John

[Ron]

BOR90 is an ocean going trimaran - strong, but obiously built on the light weight side. They were testing it off of San Diego in 20 plus knots of wind - going over 50 knots in the process and flying from swell to swell on a piece of 1 hull. Alinghi (the Swiss catamaran) will have trouble out there. The Swiss team was trying to run the race in the Persian Gulf out of any ocean swells and in light air, but the courts ruled against that. The race will be held about 20 miles off of Valencia in February. Not sure how this will effect the Swiss, but Ellison was looking forward to getting it moved out into some real water. The mnohulls that had been racing for the cup were never allowed to sail in anything over 20 knots.

[Ron]

Well - the story is over. USA-17 just won the 2nd race and the America's Cup, beating Alinghi 5 without that much trouble. The first leg (windward) of the triangle course (per Deed of Gift rules) was close and very interesting, but it walked away from the big catamaran on the 2nd leg (reach) and probably feathered back enough to keep that same delta on the 3rd (also a reach). The first race, a windward leeward course, was in a litle more wind and the trimaran just walked away from the catamaran from the gun. The huge wing sail (234 feet tall) had a lot to do with all of the above. A 3 foil 45 foot wing could do wonders for the Telstar.

Also interesting is that the Swiss boat got penalized in both starts. You've got to learn how to match race if that's what your doing. But it didn't effect the outcome at all. USA-17 had a huge lead at the end even before Alinghi had to do it's 360 turn.

The cup is back where it belongs, with apoligies to those on the list who's country originally owned it 160 years ago.

I would like to see this turn into a best of breed event, using the fastest high tech boats out there. That would imply multhulls. But I have a hunch that it will revert to the slower monohulls again.

Take a look at http://www.americascup.com. They should have replays there of much of the action.