How to ruin a global (but richmans) sport

**###KILTEDKIWI###** · 5th July 09, 05:04 PM

Yachting: Alinghi's big secret set to sail
4:00AM Monday Jul 06, 2009

The worst-kept secret in the America's Cup is official: Alinghi of Switzerland will sail a giant catamaran when it defends the oldest trophy in international sports early next year against bitter United States rival BMW Oracle Racing.

The Swiss confirmed yesterday they will sail a twin-hulled boat that is 90ft (27m) long on the waterline.

The catamaran reportedly has a bowsprit that makes it about 120ft overall.

The high-tech craft was built in Villeneuve, Switzerland, and will be launched by helicopter on Lake Geneva this week before undergoing testing.

Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing of San Francisco are due to meet in a best-of-three series in February in huge multihulls.

The rare one-on-one showdown is the result of a convoluted, two-year court fight in which BMW Oracle Racing's backing yacht club was declared the rightful Challenger of Record.

Alinghi gets to pick the venue, with a decision due by August 8, six months before the first race.

The Swiss reportedly are considering Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, apparently feeling that their catamaran would excel in the light wind and flat water.

Oracle Racing will counter with a 90ft trimaran. The space age-looking trimaran has been in the boatshed since March for significant modifications. The trimaran has gone through three rounds of testing, first in Anacortes, Washington, and then on the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.

With the size and speed of the giant multihulls, it could be the most spectacular racing in the 158-year history of the America's Cup.

BMW Oracle Racing's trimaran's mast is as high as a 16-storey building and the mainsail is twice the size of a Boeing 747's wing. The boat's three hulls would cover the diamond on a major league baseball field.

Boats that size can be lethal, too. BMW Oracle Racing's sailors have been cautious while sailing their big boat, including wearing crash helmets and life vests.

There's been speculation that BMW Oracle Racing, owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison, is building a second boat.

The Swiss have been secretly building their boat amid rumours it was a catamaran. In late April, a French employee of BMW Oracle Racing was detained by police after Alinghi employees saw him taking pictures at their boatyard.

"This multihull is nothing like you've ever seen before in a big boat," Alinghi strategist and design team member Murray Jones said.

"It's like a small boat but scaled up. It's a highly tuned and engineered boat that's light. It's a piece of art."

Known as Alinghi 5, the catamaran has evolved from 35ft and 41ft catamarans favoured by the Swiss.

I really hope that one snaps and sinks, that would amuse me greatly.

money - gone - damn

**JolyStNicholas** · 5th July 09, 05:10 PM

My-MY-MY That is one BIG boat! Can;t wait to see it move on the water!

**ronstew** · 5th July 09, 05:48 PM

Kiwi, it was your Michael Fay who started this in 1987. Were it not for him, the America's Cup might still be raced unter the 12-metre formula.

I am no fan of Dennis Conner, but his counter-move was brilliant.

Look at the 1988 America's Cup - big monohull versus fast cat - and you can see that this is a logical progression.

**###KILTEDKIWI###** · 5th July 09, 06:14 PM

and we would of won to if it wasnt for dirty Den...

I spent alot of time (See everyday for a few months) on the water for the first defence down here, and have to admit I enjoyed it.

So to see that two syndicates can hijack it, kind of grinds my gears.

So first one around the moon and back wins?

add

Oh i dont care about the boat type, just that everyone should be able to build a dragster with the sail surface of the planet...

**Dan R Porter** · 5th July 09, 07:44 PM

the original post appear to be instructions for a flux capacitor....

It was greek to me. So I guess that was a very long paragraph when it would have been summed up by "Very big boat?"

**hospitaller** · 5th July 09, 08:29 PM

no matter what, it is somewhat disheartening to see that you really hope for a boat to break and sink. people risk their lives. wishing someone harm is not cool in my boat, and I really don't see how that attitude belongs here.

Originally Posted by ###KILTEDKIWI###

I really hope that one snaps and sinks, that would amuse me greatly.

**###KILTEDKIWI###** · 5th July 09, 09:31 PM

no matter what, it is somewhat disheartening to see that you really hope for a boat to break and sink. people risk their lives. wishing someone harm is not cool in my boat, and I really don't see how that attitude belongs here.

?????????

okay then

And who said I was wishing for others to get hurt, the vessel, not the man, I think you have read to much into that sarcastic remark.

**ronstew** · 5th July 09, 09:56 PM

Okay, it's not about the boats, it's about exlusive competition?

But, once again, didn't Conner hijack the cup in '87 by not giving details of the next challenge? And then Fay took the deed of gift to court. Nobody else was invited to race. How is this different?

(And no - I did not think you literally wish disaster on anybody. [shakes head])

**###KILTEDKIWI###** · 6th July 09, 01:46 PM

But, once again, didn't Conner hijack the cup in '87 by not giving details of the next challenge? And then Fay took the deed of gift to court. Nobody else was invited to race. How is this different?

Good point, fay also built his plastic boat in 87, i believe and that was part of the court wrangling. then the big boat after that.

But that kind of put one nail in the coffin as far as some were concerned, this maybe another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America's_Cup

They need a similair approach as F1, hell even limit the builders of boats to a few and all built to the same spec, that would stop the ludicrous amount of money poured in, and then this type of exclusitivity.

**ronstew** · 6th July 09, 02:25 PM

Seems that we are the only ones interested in this topic, so this is my final thought:

There was nothing wrong with 12-metre racing, which was similar to Formula 1. I wish for a return. But, of course, F1 is in the midst of much turmoil, and has been for some years now.

I miss the early eighties, and before. Back then, if there was a Canadian challenger, it was a Canadian challenger, with Canadian hardware and a Canadian crew.

I miss it, but it is gone. Perhaps it will come back.