AC33 - Trimaran wins the Americas’ Cup!

I’m sure most people were never expecting a trimaran would win (or even race in) an Americas’ Cup match, but yesterday the BMW Oracle Racing trimaran USA won the Americas’ Cup, defeating the catamaran Alinghi V by winning the first 2 races in a 3-race series.

USA crossed the start line 24 seconds ahead of Alinghi V and headed to the port side of the course, while Alinghi V headed to the starboard side. USA tacked to cover and took the initial lead. Alinghi was able to tack back to port ahead of USA after some good starboard pressure, but with a good covering tack USA got  out in front and stayed there.

The view from the rear… Alinghi V trailing USA on the final leg. Picture © Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing, used with permission.

The victorious USA crew after crossing the finish line. Picture © Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing, used with permission.

AC33 - USA Trimaran takes the first race

USA, BMW-Oracle Racing's giant 90-foot trimaran has taken the first race in the 33rd Americas Cup by a margin of more than 15 minutes. After a pre-start tussle where Alinghi V picked up a penalty turn for not allowing enough room for USA while on port tack, the trimaran crossed the line more than a minute behind. She made up this deficit and was leading by more than 3 minutes at the weather mark of this upwind-downwind race.

BMW-Oracle Racing's trimaran USA catches up with Alinghi V on the windward leg. Picture © Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing, used with permission.

She held onto this lead in the downwind run, reaching speeds of up to 25 knots in the gentle breeze. The wing-sail clearly came into its own during this race, allowing James Spithill to sail USA consistently higher and keep the hull and windward float in the air. This allowed him to keep the apparent wind well forward as he played the puffs all through the race, steering the mega-trimaran like a dinghy sailor.

James Spithill helms BMW-Oracle Racing's trimaran USA on the downwind leg. Picture © Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing, used with permission.

Check out the BMW Oracle Racing blog for more details.

BMW Oracle Racing wing takes flight

Yesterday the BMW Oracle Racing team took their BOR90 trimaran for a sail off San Diego in its "version 4.0" configuration - with the world's largest wing replacing the soft sails of earlier trials.

The "2-element" wing is raised from the port side with a massive gin-pole. The aft "element" of the wing is divided into 6 sections which appear to be controlled independently, allowing its "twist" to be tuned.

Getting the BOR 90 away from the dock after the wing was attached for the first time was a complicated process. The wing needed to be attached to the boat in near calm conditions, before helmsman James Spithill carefully maneuvered away from the dock with the wing down, in a horizontal position, assisted by numerous RIBs. Apparently, while the wing is attached the boat swing at a mooring - since it won't be possible to de-power the rig at the dock.

All photos © Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle Racing. Used with permission.