TonyP Loc: New Zealand

It is an expensive sport.
I heard the woman, who has written part 1 of Ellisons biography on Sports Radio here the other day.
She said he has spent "100's of millions" (US$) funding Oracle getting the Cup and now on the Defense.
Conversely, the NZ Government put in 36 million (NZ$) and Grant Dalton has raised the rest via various
sponsors. Total about NZ$100 million.
If we win the Cup, our Prime Minister has said the Government will increase support to $40 million
to help defend it.
Have to admit, Ive changed my mind about multi-hulls.
Was dead against them for this Regatta, but having watched the thrills (and spills), reckon this is the way
to go to get public interest going :thumbup:
Cheers

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

OK... splain something to me......lol I watched "A" race Sunday and the American Ship Won..... I think YEAH, we won (I had never watched a race before.. this was quite exciting)

Now on here it seems that the race is run in "Legs" right?

How many and when will the Final WINNER Win?

Thanks for your help here..

Mike

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Okay. Yes it is run 2 races per day with a 'Rest Day' usually every 2 days. Depending on conditions, say if the wind gets above (I think) 25 knots, racing may be cancelled.
The first boat to win 9 races, wins the Americas Cup.
Usually.
Because Oracle USA got caught cheating in earlier elimination races last year, they were fined $250,000, had 3 sailors
banned but more importantly were given 2 penalty 'points' which means, while New Zealand have to win 9 races, Oracle now have to win 11 (before NZ get their 9).
The race you saw, when Oracle won, means they now have to win 10 races.
Team New Zealand (Camper) won the first 3 races, so have to win another 6.
Hope that makes sense.
You are right, this is exciting stuff. Formula 1 racing in massive, highly technical, multihulls. Speeds can get up to
70mph and a New Zealand sailor, on Alinghi, was killed in a race during the lead up to the Cup a month ago.

Hope that helps. "See you there tomorrow"
Cheers

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

Thanks clear now..
Saw on the news this morning that one of the Oracle's crew went overboard.... He was rescued and unhurt....

Thanks again..

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I must have been having a confused day when I answered you.
Actually Oracle had 4 sailors banned (but one was only for the first 4 races tho) and they weren't actually elimination races.
The whole Americas Cup charter is really quite convoluted now.
The defender gets the rights to change the rules and since Ellison has had the Cup, he has changed a lot.
There is now a World Series during the interim years between Cup challenges.
They are raced using smaller catamarans (45meters) and it was during these races that some of the Oracle crew illegally
changed some features of their boat to get a speed advantage.
The AC45's are supposed to be identical, so it comes down to the skill of the crew, with no boat advantage.
The international jury that imposed the penalties were pretty harsh in my opinion. I think 2 penalty points was too much.
It penalised the whole boat for what appears to be the work of just 4 or 5 crew.
That's assuming the whole crew knew nothing about it.
Which might be a bit of a stretch. Hard to believe the Skipper and Ellison were in the dark I guess.
That's probably why the 2 point penalty.
Racing starts in just under 1 hour.
Cheers

venturer9 Loc: Newton, Il.

I am so shattered.... Somebody planning on a "RACE" would actually cheat....hummmmmmmm
Sounds like Jimmie Johnsons team... (THAT OUGHT TO BOIL THE POT) lol

thanks, I will be watching..

Mike

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

What about MWR?

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

And coming from behind, a WIN for New Zealand:shock:
Gotta go and have a lie down before the next race.
Am worn out from the stress.

UPDATE
Oracle USA, after a severe loss in Race 1 today, have pulled out of race 2!(race 6)
Each boat gets one Postponement Card. Usually saved for in case of a breakage, they have taken a BIG gamble using it tactically today.
If they get a problem in any of the next races and can't continue, they automatically lose the race.
Using it today I think is a tactical move and indicates they don't want to face
Camper in strong winds.
On the wind, I think the Team New Zealand boat is quite a bit faster and our Skipper is an artist in these conditions.
Once again I can hear the Fat Lady humming :)

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Who, what's MWR and what did Johnson do?
Cheers

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

It is Nascar stuff
MWR is Michael Waltrip Racing.
They just received the biggest penalty ever issued by Nascar for trying to influence the outcome of the race.
Jimmy Johnson is always accused of cheating because he is so good.

You might know Marcos Ambrose from Australia.
Ambrose is a dual Australian V8 Supercar champion in 2003 and 2004.
He now races in Nascar.

Marcos Ambrose #9

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

I was disappointed that the second race was canceled.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Now I understand.
Yes, recall Ambrose from years ago but haven't heard of him for awhile.
Thanks for the explanation :thumbup:

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

You and most of New Zealand mate.
It's not over yet, but the Oracle team will have to work hard over the next 2 days, before the next race.

TrainNut Loc: Ridin' the rails

Thanks for letting him come over here. He is a great guy.
:thumbup:

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Going to be a restless sleep tonight for 100's of thousands of New Zealanders.

2 races tomorrow.
A new Oracle Skipper?
A new Tactician?
Who knows? I'll be in bed, maybe not asleep tho, when Oracle announce their crew.
It has to be 4 hours before the start.
I'm betting they get the pommie Ben Ainslie as skipper and maybe a new Tactician?
By the by. A little history if anyone's interested.
It is the oldest sporting trophy in the World.
In 1851, or thereabouts, a New York yacht club sailed the schooner 'America' to England to compete for the 100 Guinea Cup.
They won and renamed the Cup, Americas Cup, after their boat.
By the way, the competition is not between countries, it's between yacht clubs.
The holder of the Cup gets to control the rules, amend them and invent new ones if they want to.
And boy, have the American holders made it difficult at times.
Culminating in a panicked Dennis Connor (USA) secretly building a catamaran when he thought NZ was to good to beat in a single hull.
We fronted with a yacht and Bad Boy Dennis thrashes us with his multi hull.
It's never gone back.

So pardon me for being nervous, even though it looks like NZ have the talent and the fastest upwind boat.
I think it's difficult to trust Larry Ellison and his billions of dollars. He likes to win.
Have to wonder what he's got up his sleeve.

GO CAMPER AND TEAM NEW ZEALAND :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: