America's Cup Kicks-Off Today (3 Viewers)

[Desertkiwi]

Hi Fella's, the final challenge for the America's Cup is under-way this morning in San Francisco between Team Oracle (USA) & Team NZ.

These boats are spectacular to watch......check it out, you won't be disappointed.^&grin

http://tvnz.co.nz/americas-cup-video/live-stream-america-s-5536197


Cheers Toddy

 

[lancer]

The speed that these boats can attain is just unbelievable. They virtually come out of the water on those little fins. All in all though, I prefer the old elegant sailing yachts cutting through the water. I'm just a tad old fashioned. ^&grin -- Al

 

[lancer]

NZ wins the first 2 races and because of penalties the US stands at -2. NZ now has to win only 7 more races while the US has to take 11. -- Al

 

[Desertkiwi]

NZ wins the first 2 races and because of penalties the US stands at -2. NZ now has to win only 7 more races while the US has to take 11. -- Al

Cheers Al, yeah amazing boats to watch and there's so many things that can go wrong doing that kind of speed, as the Kiwi's found a few weeks ago.

Great seeing so many spectators on shore and out on the harbour soaking it all up......looks like a wonderful place.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the series.

I think using these expensive cats has killed off many potential teams, I would love to see more countries having a go....fingers crossed for the future.

Toddy

 

[waynepoo]

The speed that these boats can attain is just unbelievable. They virtually come out of the water on those little fins. All in all though, I prefer the old elegant sailing yachts cutting through the water. I'm just a tad old fashioned. ^&grin -- Al

Have to agree here, even though it has always been the play thing of the rich and meaningless, it has never been the same since Australia lost it back to the Yanks and all the legal rubbish that went on, bring back the old America's Cup....:rolleyes2::wink2:
Wayne.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Have to agree here, even though it has always been the play thing of the rich and meaningless, it has never been the same since Australia lost it back to the Yanks and all the legal rubbish that went on, bring back the old America's Cup....:rolleyes2::wink2:
Wayne.

Totally agree Wayne, the cups never without drama:wink2:, but the 'dirty tricks brigade' need to lay-off the childish antic's and get back to the real sport of yacht racing....^&grin.....hopefully the Kiwi's can bring it back down under so the Aussie's can have another crack at it too

 

[lancer]

Oracle got whipped again. Now down 3 to -2, a 5 win deficit. Not looking good as we await today's second race. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Oracle got whipped again. Now down 3 to -2, a 5 win deficit. Not looking good as we await today's second race. -- Al

Oracle wins race 2 and gets on the board. These races are incredibly fast. If you blink you miss it. I'm used to the hours long races of yesteryear, I'm afraid. The speed of these cats is just amazing. Watching the acceleration off the turns is like watching a funny car drag race. I have to admit though, it is fun to watch. -- Al

 

[Desertkiwi]

Oracle wins race 2 and gets on the board. These races are incredibly fast. If you blink you miss it. I'm used to the hours long races of yesteryear, I'm afraid. The speed of these cats is just amazing. Watching the acceleration off the turns is like watching a funny car drag race. I have to admit though, it is fun to watch. -- Al

A mixed result for Team NZ today, the first race was fantastic with several tight tac's, but didn't get to see the second race live as planned which was disappointing even if we lost.

Yeah they are very cool to watch, must be exciting for spectators both on and off the water. Things are shaping up to be a fairly close contest and as Dean BAKER said after day one, there's really little in it between both boats.

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

A mixed result for Team NZ today, the first race was fantastic with several tight tac's, but didn't get to see the second race live as planned which was disappointing even if we lost.

Yeah they are very cool to watch, must be exciting for spectators both on and off the water. Things are shaping up to be a fairly close contest and as Dean BAKER said after day one, there's really little in it between both boats.

I guess I am simply old fashion but I don't really care for these new "boats", if that is what they are really. I longer for the old 12 meter class but even the international class was better than the current joke that passes for design standards. Cats should never have been allowed in the first place and now the hulls are only occassionally in the water. Call me contrary and out of date but I just don't think this is sailing and I think it is a blot on the history of the Cup. If they wanted to race these "things" fine, just do it in some other venue and don't confuse it with real sailing. Sorry for the rant but I remember those great days of Liberty and Austraiia II and Stars and Stripes 87 and Kookaburra III. Now those were proper Americas Cup boats. What we have now is more like unpowered pod racing over water.

 

[lancer]

I guess I am simply old fashion but I don't really care for these new "boats", if that is what they are really. I longer for the old 12 meter class but even the international class was better than the current joke that passes for design standards. Cats should never have been allowed in the first place and now the hulls are only occassionally in the water. Call me contrary and out of date but I just don't think this is sailing and I think it is a blot on the history of the Cup. If they wanted to race these "things" fine, just do it in some other venue and don't confuse it with real sailing. Sorry for the rant but I remember those great days of Liberty and Austraiia II and Stars and Stripes 87 and Kookaburra III. Now those were proper Americas Cup boats. What we have now is more like unpowered pod racing over water.

Yes indeed. Now that was sailboat racing. Real boats and real sails. It moved at a slower pace but one could follow the strategy and tactics.:salute:: -- Al

 

[Scott]

I haven't followed the Cup Races since they left Newport, R.I. My folks had friends in the U.S.C.G. and watched the races from one of the larger cutters as guests of the C.G.. It gave them a chance to wear their blue blazers with the local Sandy Bay Yacht Club patches. The Cup Races were like the Super Bowl around here for the yacht club set. We must have 1000s of pictures and 100s of feet of super 8 film "somewhere" from back in the 60s and 70s that my father took.

 

[Desertkiwi]

I guess I am simply old fashion but I don't really care for these new "boats", if that is what they are really. I longer for the old 12 meter class but even the international class was better than the current joke that passes for design standards. Cats should never have been allowed in the first place and now the hulls are only occassionally in the water. Call me contrary and out of date but I just don't think this is sailing and I think it is a blot on the history of the Cup. If they wanted to race these "things" fine, just do it in some other venue and don't confuse it with real sailing. Sorry for the rant but I remember those great days of Liberty and Austraiia II and Stars and Stripes 87 and Kookaburra III. Now those were proper Americas Cup boats. What we have now is more like unpowered pod racing over water.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, I'm just happy to see some sailing for a change. As for choosing the 'cats' that was Team Oracles decision, they made the rules, chose the venue and the design of the boats and have done everything they can to discourage and eliminate challengers both on and off the water.

I'm probably being hugely biased here, but I think the best thing for the future of the regatta, would be for Oracle to lose the cup. Since winning it, they have done little to encourage an international flavour to the competition, instead choosing to stack the deck and cheat.

As an island nation Kiwi's are passionate about sailing and as a nation, love the cup. I've no doubt they would flick the cats and go back to some real boats if they won.

 

[lancer]

Oracle took another whipping in race 1 today then called Time Out to halt the racing till Thursday. Seems they are in disarray. NZ needs 5 more wins, Oracle needs 10. Might be time to hit the panic button. Maybe Oracle can find some arcane rule about the NZ boat being too fast to be legal.{eek3}:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[Desertkiwi]

Oracle took another whipping in race 1 today then called Time Out to halt the racing till Thursday. Seems they are in disarray. NZ needs 5 more wins, Oracle needs 10. Might be time to hit the panic button. Maybe Oracle can find some arcane rule about the NZ boat being too fast to be legal.{eek3}:wink2:^&grin -- Al

Yeah, I hear ya Lancer, we wouldn't want to go down that path again.^&grin

I managed to catch most of the first race today and Oracle stalled after a good start. Was then disappointed to hear that they had asked for a postponement of the second scheduled race, saying they needed to 're-group'.

Although the rules allow them to do this, it's not a good look and judging from the faces of the Oracle crew after the first race & later SPITHILL's comments at the press conference, things don't sound great in their camp right now.

Of course it could all be a ploy....

 

[Desertkiwi]

Another big day today on the water, regardless of the outcome Oracle can't pack up their toys and leave the field if things don't go there way again.{sm2}

Things are definitely getting a little tense out there, all we need now is for Oracle to ram the Kiwi boat accidently on purpose....{eek3}:tongue::wink2:

 

[lancer]

Another big day today on the water, regardless of the outcome Oracle can't pack up their toys and leave the field if things don't go there way again.{sm2}

Things are definitely getting a little tense out there, all we need now is for Oracle to ram the Kiwi boat accidently on purpose....{eek3}:tongue::wink2:

No ramming, the Oracle is more subtle. Perhaps a real shallow running torpedo.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[bradleyl30]

I guess I am simply old fashion but I don't really care for these new "boats", if that is what they are really. I longer for the old 12 meter class but even the international class was better than the current joke that passes for design standards. Cats should never have been allowed in the first place and now the hulls are only occassionally in the water. Call me contrary and out of date but I just don't think this is sailing and I think it is a blot on the history of the Cup. If they wanted to race these "things" fine, just do it in some other venue and don't confuse it with real sailing. Sorry for the rant but I remember those great days of Liberty and Austraiia II and Stars and Stripes 87 and Kookaburra III. Now those were proper Americas Cup boats. What we have now is more like unpowered pod racing over water.

Yeah, sailing is my first love, even before toy soldiers if you can believe it!

I am out every weekend on the Chesapeake Bay, and would love to be interested in the America's Cup (even if we are getting our butts kicked.) With these new designs and Larry Ellison "representing" the USA I just can't stomach it. Very similar to the NFL where it just isn't representative of the football that meant so much to me as a kid. I can't stand most of the players, and owners.

Basically, we are rooting for corporations and not teams that represent us.

Soap box going back in closet... click.

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, I'm just happy to see some sailing for a change. As for choosing the 'cats' that was Team Oracles decision, they made the rules, chose the venue and the design of the boats and have done everything they can to discourage and eliminate challengers both on and off the water.

I'm probably being hugely biased here, but I think the best thing for the future of the regatta, would be for Oracle to lose the cup. Since winning it, they have done little to encourage an international flavour to the competition, instead choosing to stack the deck and cheat.

As an island nation Kiwi's are passionate about sailing and as a nation, love the cup. I've no doubt they would flick the cats and go back to some real boats if they won.

Honestly I would prefer a Kiwi win. I also do not care how TO has handled the competition. As for the Cat choice, I simply don't think that should be a premitted option and the way these things perform, they are not even true cats since neither hull spends much time in the water. If the Kiwis' would bring back mono hulls, I would be in their camp for life.

 

[lancer]

Looks like another 2 losses today. Oracle is being badly embarrassed. They trail by 1000 meters in race 2 after getting drubbed in race 1. This isn't even competitive. Maybe NZ will let Oracle use an a cigarette boat to try and win a race.:rolleyes2: -- Al