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The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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After almost sinking and 9 full days of repairs Patriot of the NY Yacht Club, American Magic was faster down wind but could never find the ability to point higher or match the boat speed of Luna Rosa. So they are going home. Video has highlights of these amazing rocket ships. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaqqIVahZtw
Disappointing, yes. Practical Sailor discusses issues with multihull boats that makes one thinkr about the speed these boats are going if/when they hit a wave, foiling or not, and the physics that come into play. I must be getting old as it certainly makes me appreciate my slow monohull!
Peter Bigelow C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick Rowayton, Ct Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
The speeds in the Americas Cup classes are incredible for sail-powered crafts. Taking the hull out of the water and using foils changes the whole game. It’s a technology race that apparently the British and Italians (and their proxies) have excelled at. Next, we shall see how the Kiwi technology will fare. The Cup is theirs to lose.
You can bet they have been watching and taking notes. Peter, do these boats actually qualify as multi-hull, or the article just talking about multi-hulls and how fast they can go? My impression is these boats are mono-hulls.
DavidP 1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52 PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess" Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN
I think they are best referred to as "foiling monohulls"
Derek Crawford Chief Measurer C25-250 2008 Previous owner of "This Side UP" 1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized" San Antonio, Texas
...do these boats actually qualify as multi-hull, or the article just talking about multi-hulls and how fast they can go? My impression is these boats are mono-hulls.
When they come down off their foils, it turns out they're monohulls, virtually dead in the water in relative terms. It seemed the AC-72 catamarans in Bermuda were much faster when they came off their foils (as catamarans generally are). But these boats appeared to be faster on their foils--hitting 50 at some points. That technology has apparently improved.
Sailing on your own apparent wind going downwind is an interesting concept--almost as if "perpetual motion" has finally been achieved! Getting up and going takes some true wind energy, but once you're doing 40 knots, does the true wind matter any more?? Downwind it just reduces your apparent somewhat... Pretty cool!
I felt badly for Patriot's crew (0-10). An embarrassment. You sit there grinding and grinding, you look up, and the other boat is two marks ahead of you--meaning behind you and you're in danger of being lapped! I only recall them being within a hundred yards at the finish in one race in the entire Prada series. 25 seconds at 35 mph is a long way. However, they did create the most exciting moment of the series!
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Peter, do these boats actually qualify as multi-hull, or the article just talking about multi-hulls and how fast they can go?
As mentioned, probably foiling monohulls -- but -- the point of the article is that when, say, a tri-hull racing with one of the hulls out of the water hits a wave, the physics of high speed slamming against a "slow" wave causes many things to happen -- such as broaching, capsizing, and structural breakage, etc. -- similar to what appears to have happened with American Magic. Exciting stuff, but very different than traditional "sailing"
Peter Bigelow C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick Rowayton, Ct Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Thanks for that link Dave. It will be interesting to see Luna Rossa up against the UK in the final. Meanwhile NZ waits...
Derek Crawford Chief Measurer C25-250 2008 Previous owner of "This Side UP" 1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized" San Antonio, Texas
I'm doubtful "waiting" is advantageous for NZ. These boats are so new... Look what the Brits have done after their pre-series troubles. Now, how will they do after their wait while Italy honed their game to what looks like near-perfection against the USA, who had everything go wrong from the crash, to the splash-downs, to the inferior tactics (by a NZ'er at the helm) and the apparently slower boat.
I applaud the rescue effort by everyone after the crash, the the effort to get Patriot back into the game, and the sportsmanship throughout, but my take-away is the US effort was not quite up to it, which has become pretty normal in competitive international sailing. It's not our game, and will go to those whose game it is.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.