SIGHT TO BEHOLD Jun 26, 11:24
For nearly five minutes during yesterday's second race, ten of the twelve yachts were all lined up together on the Virtual Eye "ahead/behind line" as they sailed up the first weather leg. No exaggeration.
Virtual Eye is the latest version of what last Cup was called Go Virtual -- the real time, computer-aninmated 3D display of the racing yachts as they go around the race course that we show on VIP boats and at the Base.
We were in "lane 2" on the left with ETNZ. At first Virtual Eye showed us in third. Then the wind shifted 5 deg to the right, and we fell to eighth. Then it oscillated back to the left and were in second; then back to the right and we were in ninth!
And after watching AC racing for 25 years, the TFE eye is pretty tuned up to judging such things, and I could not argue with what the Virtual Eye system was showing. Very cool technology, to say nothing of extremely close racing.
When all ten yachts got to the weather mark it was a sight to behold. Never seen anything like it in Cup class racing. Like a fleet of Lasers.
ETNZ forced an overalp at the weather mark, touched the mark, and were penalized. In doing their loop they fell from near the top to 10th place. Mascalzone, also one of the leaders on the approach to Mark 1, came in on port tack and had to take eight or nine transoms before finding a hole to tack into, dropping to 9th at the mark.
For today's final race you will have seen that the standings are very tight, and that it is up for grabs at least among five or six of us. And the Swedes are in the jury room as I write this Sunday morning after failing the post-race measurement check last evening and being protested by the Race Committee.
The weather forecast is carbon copy of the past two days. I won't even bother posting today's wx graphic from Chris "Sunshine" Bedford. Reminds me of San Diego where it seems they tape one forecast and use it all week.
We did a small modification to the yacht overnight (each team is permitted one "mode change" during Acts 4/5 -- a change to the yacht that does not involve reweighing or refloating the yacht such as changing the angle of the winglets on the keel bulb). Will be interesting to see how the mod works.
We are all beat, and frankly happy this is the last day. But it has been exciting, and everyone on our team -- sailing, design, shore, marketing and admin -- have learned heaps.
Speaking of sights to behold -- following the fleet in to the Port America's Cup after yesterday's second race. Count 'em.
Virtual Eye is the latest version of what last Cup was called Go Virtual -- the real time, computer-aninmated 3D display of the racing yachts as they go around the race course that we show on VIP boats and at the Base.
We were in "lane 2" on the left with ETNZ. At first Virtual Eye showed us in third. Then the wind shifted 5 deg to the right, and we fell to eighth. Then it oscillated back to the left and were in second; then back to the right and we were in ninth!
And after watching AC racing for 25 years, the TFE eye is pretty tuned up to judging such things, and I could not argue with what the Virtual Eye system was showing. Very cool technology, to say nothing of extremely close racing.
When all ten yachts got to the weather mark it was a sight to behold. Never seen anything like it in Cup class racing. Like a fleet of Lasers.
ETNZ forced an overalp at the weather mark, touched the mark, and were penalized. In doing their loop they fell from near the top to 10th place. Mascalzone, also one of the leaders on the approach to Mark 1, came in on port tack and had to take eight or nine transoms before finding a hole to tack into, dropping to 9th at the mark.
For today's final race you will have seen that the standings are very tight, and that it is up for grabs at least among five or six of us. And the Swedes are in the jury room as I write this Sunday morning after failing the post-race measurement check last evening and being protested by the Race Committee.
The weather forecast is carbon copy of the past two days. I won't even bother posting today's wx graphic from Chris "Sunshine" Bedford. Reminds me of San Diego where it seems they tape one forecast and use it all week.
We did a small modification to the yacht overnight (each team is permitted one "mode change" during Acts 4/5 -- a change to the yacht that does not involve reweighing or refloating the yacht such as changing the angle of the winglets on the keel bulb). Will be interesting to see how the mod works.
We are all beat, and frankly happy this is the last day. But it has been exciting, and everyone on our team -- sailing, design, shore, marketing and admin -- have learned heaps.
Speaking of sights to behold -- following the fleet in to the Port America's Cup after yesterday's second race. Count 'em.
Racing | by TFE
