Oracle Speaks

Grumpy · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: Oracle Speaks

For those in the PNW wondering who just passed them at 30 Kts plus, try this website:-
http://bmworacleracing.com/en/index.html?track.refer=

Merv

BaseCampAnne · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject: Wow!!!

I have a sudden desire, make that need, to spend a few days in the Anacortes area watching for this incredible sailing beauty! I checked the website and didn't find much except they expect to be in the area till sometime around the middle of the month.
Anyone heading up to check this out?
Anne

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

There were some stats on Scuttlebutt yesterday. The down wind sail area is 3 foot ball fields of sail cloth! I would love to see this Puppy sail!

Grumpy · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject:

I want to see them get through Deception Pass. Shocked

Spotted them from about 10 miles away (yes they are that BIG) on Tuesday but have had no chance to get up there since. Maybe this weekend (but I have to admit if there are Orcas, they will win).

Fantastic technology.

Merv

colobear · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

I was out on a Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol in Rosario straits yesterday and spotted the oracle boat about two miles away, got as close to it as I could, (it was surrounded by perimeter boats about 100yds away to keep a protected zone around the boat). The hulls were almost invisible they're so slim but the mast looked, as my other crewmember said, "like an oil derrick at sea". It had a single tightly reefed mainsail that looked almost completely rigid and was being towed by a small boat at about 15kts. Quite a sight. The hull paint is very interesting. From the side it appears dark blue with a raked bow until you look more closely and see that the bow extends about 8ft beyond the apparent dark blue prow and is painted an off white. Not sure just why but it sure is deceiving. The boat is actually about 8ft further along than it appears to be. Hmmm? Some racing trick maybe??

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

On our return yesterday from the Broken Islands, we were coming across Haro Straite and we saw, as Barry described it, what looked like an extremely tall derrick. We were 6-8 miles away at this point. As we got closer and at a different angle it was actually a tri hulled craft. It followed us through the "Cattle Point". When we tied up at Skyline I found out what she was.

TomRay · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Oracle Speaks

What a radical boat!

I used to own a Corsair F-27, a pretty fast boat which seems very tame by comparison. Now I get my kicks in a Hobie Adventure Island trimaran kayak. Get that thing above 8 knots and it feels dangerously fast! Very Happy

If you want to see a really radical design, check out Sailrocket

They have a crazy proa-inspired craft, and want to break 50 knots (if they can keep it intact through a test run). Fun to watch.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

Should be a hell of an America's Cup to watch!

No more slow, boring, tactical racing.

With closing speeds like 30 mph, depending on the venue and wind, there will be some tight calls to make with no room to make an error that results in a collision.

I'd like to hear the story behind the design, engineering, and construction of that boat!

Joe. Teeth

Grumpy · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject:

Think of all the downriggers etc you could get on that thing!

Where do you store the fish/crabs/prawns etc.....

Want to try standing on deck at 40 Kts apparent wind ??

Where is the porta potty?

How do you drill holes in that core ?

Where does the kicker go ?

What size truck to trailer it ?

So many questions... Two sails or one..... the mind boggles, and only $10M.

Damn!

Merv Confused

TomRay · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

tom&shan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 316 Photos: Dakota

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

That's not an "America's Cup"!! Give them all identical boats, make them switch boats between races and let the best sailor win, not the boats! Exclamation

Charlie (Take that!!)

Doryman · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

Bring back the J-Boats, I say!

Warren

thataway · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject:

There have been quite a few large multi hulls, including many larger than this vessel, but she is so light, so much sail area and so high tech that I am sure she will be faster---if she hold together. Remember that as they first sailed they basically "powered up" the boat, starting with a double reefed main only. There will be strain guages in all of the rigging, and many places in the hull to see what the loads are.

Even larger is 131 foot Banque Populaire V, at 40 meters (over 130 feet) was launched this last week also. She is also powering up--with similar issues a Or

Other large multi hulls include Orange II, which is over 125 feet long, Cheyene about 125 feet, Play Station 120 feet, Gitana 13, over 100 feet, Geronimo 110 feet, our own Tom Cat owning Georgs Kolesnikovs sailed a 60 foot Tri from New York to San Franscisco setting a record for the passage. Dennis Conner's Starts and Strips at 60 feet raced in the Americas cup (sure these are small vessels, but many of the same techniques prevail).

I agree, the America's cup has really lost interest for me. We had our boat in Newport, RI for the 1983 cup and knew a number of the crew members, so it was a very exciting time for us... But with the huge budgets, well over 200 million dollars, this type of sailing is out of touch with reality and the majority of sailors.

Fun Patrol · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Here's a link to a Seattle Times article.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008169818_oracle10.html

Should kick some major butt!

Roy