Deep Purple 527 Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Just like Auckland, this whole format is a joke. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 169 Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 1 hour ago, Deep Purple said: Just like Auckland, this whole format is a joke. Trying to race when there is not enough wind for both competitors to foil has ruined it for me. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 169 Posted September 1 Share Posted September 1 The video... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350398692/americas-cup-alarming-moment-team-new-zealand-boat-was-dropped-crane Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 527 Posted September 1 Share Posted September 1 19 minutes ago, LBD said: The video... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350398692/americas-cup-alarming-moment-team-new-zealand-boat-was-dropped-crane So not really "dropped" and why is the forward cradle on such an angle? It looks like it was set there all the time. Maybe they pull it vertical once the foils are past it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
khayyam 93 Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 The odd race is pretty good (ETNZ v AM last night). But an awful lot of them are quite dull. Nice to watch in replay to skip forward... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
khayyam 93 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Two of the "yawn" type last night sadly. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K4309 353 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 1 hour ago, khayyam said: Two of the "yawn" type last night sadly. So far all the excitement is non-racing related. Sir Ben getting mugged, ETNZ dropping the boat, and then the most exciting on water aspect, lightening on the course... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 527 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Yep - And the announcers were pathetic. Despite the frogs being out of the match at the start - they sailed a blinder, fast, closing all the time. A fact totally ignored by the announcers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addem 120 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 While the old 12m races were long and slow by comparison, the technical difficulty of sailing them well was demonstrable which made them compelling viewing for the purist but not much so for the novice. I think the catamaran version took viewer engagement to another level for both novice and purist But these boats are hardly worth watching. We can't see what's going on and can't appreciate the tech or tactics. The graphics on screen are uninformative and commentators don't know much about sailing. Mostly it's about watch who wins the start and then wait for the next race. But I suppose we can never go back 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 728 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Anyone that races displacement needs to jettison anything to do with "traditional" yacht racing. These are not yachts as we know them, there are common elements but they are more like low flying aircraft. Apparent wind sailing is nothing new, in the 1800's they were sailing on ice doing 4x wind speed. Current record for ice boats is over 200k's! Foiling simply reduces wetted surface and here we are, its not possible to control these boats without advanced computer systems, in fact they could be sailed without any crew because humans are there for the rules not because they are needed. The oil pumpers could be replaced with batteries, the trimmers with electro mechanical winches and the helm with servos etc. None of that matters if there is a spectacle or a contest which there isnt so far no matter how they try to dress it up. Listening to the announcers trying to whip up drama is full cringe. I am not saying the old displacement boats are better or we should go back but there was crew work and helming that I and a huge proportion of the yachting community can relate to plus the boat had a keel and sailed in the water. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K4309 353 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 1 hour ago, Addem said: While the old 12m races were long and slow by comparison, the technical difficulty of sailing them well was demonstrable which made them compelling viewing for the purist but not much so for the novice. I think the catamaran version took viewer engagement to another level for both novice and purist But these boats are hardly worth watching. We can't see what's going on and can't appreciate the tech or tactics. The graphics on screen are uninformative and commentators don't know much about sailing. Mostly it's about watch who wins the start and then wait for the next race. But I suppose we can never go back My whole family will sit down and watch sail GP together, including Miss 11 and Mr 9. Miss 11 will go find the pre race previews / video blogg thingies and we consume all media that Sail GP can produce. She keeps track of where and when the next event is and we look forward to a race weekend, checking time zones for what time the coverage will be live, etc. Unfortunately Sail GP is taking a break while the AC is on, so we tried watching some the other day. The onwater graphics don't even tell you anything about the wind. Not which way it's going, nor its strength or speed. We watched the start, most of the time we didn't even know where the line was, then, just as they crossed the start line, they cut to an ad break. The onboard footage shakes so bad I can't watch it, where as SailGP just go some Go-pros so the images are stabilised... They have a wind graphic that shows you a heat map of wind strength on the course, but still no speed or direction. I've not been able to work out the tactics, noting it is match racing and not fleet racing. As far as I can tell the best thing to do is keep score of the numbers of penalties, but they don't track those on the coverage either. The highlights footage is simply incomprehensible to watch. It jumps around from incident to incident, but there is no context if it is even the same race, if they are at the top mark or the bottom, how far through the race, etc. The foiling boats mean nothing, as we have no comprehension of speed on screen. There are no crew to see as they are all hidden under fairings. At least on the Sail GP they still need to actually swap sides when they tack or gybe. All together incredibly frustrating trying to follow it. Anyway, both kids declared the AC as boring, Miss 11 started reading a book straight after the first start it was that dull. It's getting to the point that if Mr 9 doesn't do his jobs (empty dishwasher etc) I'm going to threaten him with making him watch some America's Cup with me.... As in watch AC is some sort of punishment. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
khayyam 93 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 Penalties can be overcome, but if one boat comes off the foils they might as well just stop the race. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K4309 353 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 5 minutes ago, khayyam said: Penalties can be overcome, but if one boat comes off the foils they might as well just stop the race. Yes, but as far as I can tell, the whole point of match racing is to try and mess up the other boat, rather than to try and go as fast as you can. Hence, if you count the penalties, you get a get a handle on who is messing with who the most. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 679 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 The only way I can tell if they are on port or starboard tack is by looking at which foil is down.No idea if they going to windward or downhill unless they wind via graphics. They talk about keeping cost down.How much was the new version of the 12m s like ones down at viaduct they use for harbour sailing.Must book another ride on one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 728 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 The biggest con in the AC is to fool people into believing its a national sport, it was and remains a wealthy mans pissing match that we commoners are invited along to help pay for. Marvellous technology but its unlikely to ever filter down to club level and if it does may the gods have pity on us as raised foils scythe their way through the fleet 😅 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,692 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 Part pissing match and part entertainment industry. Definitely no sport. Reminds me of professional wrestling. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 679 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Watched the replay from friday morning last night,wife walks in and she says,more like something AI has dreamed up rather than yachts actually sailing. Thought about it a bit and thought.Yes you possibly could this via video game and telvise it and 90% of public wouldnt know the difference. Graphics today are incredible.Number 1 son in to design/graphics etc some the stuff he can makes me think its real. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 324 Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 They are making the same mistake with AC as they are with T20. Old AC in the relatively slow monohulls was like watching test cricket, and the frantic tacking and sail changes as you round the mark were the burst of energy like someone hitting a six and taking a wicket in a Cricket Test used to be. It grew on you, and judging by the amount of non boat people right up to the early 2000's that would watch it, was very popular. However, much like T20 cricket, AC is now just extreme commercialised fast food crap that I wouldn't give a rats backside if I never saw it again, ever. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eruptn 103 Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 They’re going to have to raise minimum wind speed…too many races ‘end’ when one falls of the foils. If they are not going fast enough to talk/ gybe why bother. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 62 Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 Too big foils slows them down when speed is up so increasing lower wind limit will not help as the foil design will be changed and the risk of falling off foils will remain in marginal conditions. My 2 cents... /Martin 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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