America's Cup starts tonight

[Tank]

Wont be everyones cup of tea - but will be interesting racing - these things are out of this world. The engineering in them is just, WOW!.

Looking at the wing on the BMW boat (thats a wing, not a sail) is 190 feet tall and is 80% larger in area than the wing on a 747 - they were going 32mph when winds hit a max of 10 knots.

Impressive stuff.

Starts tonight Skysport 2 - 9.45 pm.

[Edbear]

It's going to be very interesting racing for sure! Haven't got Sky but I guess I'll see it on TV tomorrow or they'll have highlights tonight.

[Swoop]

Much better than rugby.

[onearmedbandit]

From what I read in the paper it's not really going to be much of an event, best of 3 races or something similar, could be all over in 2 races the article said. Also apparently Alinghi has a motor on board now to help raise the sails as they are so heavy, so no grinding being done now?

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Its a bloody shame its taken so long to get on the water and in such a way no other syndicates to take part, so we end up with a best of three contest.
Much prefered the one design contender/challenger/defender match racing weve had for the last four cups. Hopefully after this cup it will all be sotred out again and racing will be the focus and not two rich pricks throwing their teddies in the corner and spitting dummies.
Having said that the two boats that heve been built for this cup are bloody amazing, the pre start is going to be something to watch.

[Swoop]

Its a bloody shame its taken so long to get on the water and in such a way no other syndicates to take part, so we end up with a best of three contest.
Much prefered the one design contender/challenger/defender match racing weve had for the last four cups.

It is the same basis that the NZ "big boat" challenge happened in 1988. The defenders did not set a date for the next challenge series, so they were forcibly challenged, as allowed in the rules. This type of challenge allows the choice of boat... "see you on the 17th of May and we're racing in P-class" affair.

[piston broke]

for those without sky.

http://33rd.americascup.com/en/regat...ourse/show.php

live racing there

[Maha]

I have lost interest over the years. Since the Black Boat in San Diego its been a complete brain fuck of an event.
87' was the best its ever been, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the good ole' days of KZ7 v Dennis Conner.

So whos racing in this lastest fiasco?

[Hitcher]

I'd rather watch fucking paint dry. This is not sport, people, any more than the "space race" of the 1960s was sport.

[golfmade]

Never understood how it worked, as I'm originally from a landlocked place. So, they're big boats that go fast, people scramble around the deck to make sure they get as much wind as possible anndddd... the winner crosses the finish line first?

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Oh no mate, the winner is the one with the best argument in the committee rooms and court. Ha ha

[Patrick]

Oh no mate, the winner is the one with the best argument in the committee rooms and court. Ha ha

Sums it up. The rich mans game, court battles instead of sailing battles. Gone are the days of National Pride, when the kiwi boat was full of.... Kiwis......

[tri boy]

A man who cannot appreciate a yacht under full sail, has never drank enough rum. MHO

[MIXONE]

A man who cannot appreciate a yacht under full sail, has never drank enough rum. MHO

Which is why I prefer Jack Daniel's and anything with a motor!

[yachtie10]

I have lost interest over the years. Since the Black Boat in San Diego its been a complete brain fuck of an event.
87' was the best its ever been, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the good ole' days of KZ7 v Dennis Conner.

So whos racing in this lastest fiasco?

A rich prick called Larry Ellison (owns Oracle)
and another rich even bigger prick Ernesto Bertarelli

2 of the biggest egos Ive ever seen with ernesto taking the prize

Will be facinatiing to watch these boats race as the tech is really out there

must say i hope oracle wins as there is a better chance of a fairer cup in the future.