My other yacht is Alinghi

Its the time of year when those with boats (*) are thinking of what repairs might need to be done to get their pride and joy (**) ship shape for another season of boating.

However for those in the 0.01% then the question is more likely to be what boat shall we buy this year?

If you are in the billionaires club then you don't want to be stuck with last year's tub at a mere 47m but instead upgrade to something a bit more respectable, as in the example above.

This is America's Cup tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli and his wife, ex Miss UK Kirsty Bertarelli, latest plaything on its way to the Caribbean last Friday.

The Vava II is a six decked yacht and at 96m just over twice the length of the previous one but cost a whopping £ 100 m and just filling her with fuel sets you back £250,000.

Yacht owning is an expensive business.



(*) and are in the northern hemisphere
(**) or whatever you call her

Picture from: Metro news site

Cartwheeling in Plymouth

This week the America's Cup World Series has returned to blighty with lots of boats pranging themselves. Sometimes nose first, other occasions sideways and once apparently a full cartwheel, but always wet and probably painful.

But you probably knew that, so on to the blog bit.

Firstly a public service announcement: I'm not going. Partially its a long way to go to see one race - even if it would be in the "natural amphitheatre" of Plymouth Sound (ha! - take that San Fran) - but mostly because I've arranged to visit my godson for his birthday instead. But thanks to the interweb I can watch the races on YouTube, which brings me to:

I know there was a certain amount of.... hmmm.... how shall I put it....oh yes -  pure Buff Staysail about this blog's reaction to the AC TV show. However if you look at the America's Cup YouTube channel the video from the last week with the most views is called The Plymouth Capsize Club and yup I couldn't stop myself watching it too.

Seems like a lot of people like a sailing sugar-rush

Stocking the America's Cup

This blog recently led the interweb into the brave new world of stocking. For those of you in need of a "previously on... " recap, stocking is the recreation of the world of the stock photo which is apparently the next planking (oh come on, you must of heard of planking).

Keen to continue this cutting edge trend-setting status after a bit of staging I put together the above and I'm sure you'll spot the uncanny likeness to this America's Cup photo:

Wow, you're probably thinking. How did you manage that JP? Where did you get that AC45? How could you re-create the natural amphitheatre of the San Francisco Bay?

The keen eyed will of course spot that the hull colour is wrong - darn, there is only so much attention to detail this blogger can manage.

But think of it as a challenge - or an opportunity. You too could become in-time with-it happening interwebbers - you too could enter the world of stocking.

So how about it ? Any interest in a new group exercise, the Boating Blogger's Stocking Challenge?

The uber-cool could even try stocking the O'Docker planking  - but easy tiger! Experts only for that assignment!

Buff Staysail's ACWS TV Show

G'day all! Buff Staysail here! Buff by name and Buff by nature!

JP's been slagging off some America's Cup World Series (ACWS) TV show - well he's clearly not been watching Buff's Sailing Slot on Queensland Community TV!! Yup, I've my own show, and check out the latest 22 minutes of perfection!

Alas this program is unavailable for streaming as Kevin the IT intern was caught running a pirate file store from our servers and he's been carted off to the young offenders unit. So instead here's the script in all its sparkling glory:

Intro: Stock ACWS graphics of racing boats, water splashing on AC pounding music etc etc. Cut to quick succession of short clips of [port name], boats turning round mark, crew spraying champagne over each other etc

BS (voice over)

Welcome to the America's Cup World Series event from [port name]! The America's Cup may be the oldest sporting trophy but its been updated to be as high power and exciting as Formula F1!!

Clip of boat sailing fast then nose diving:

What will happen in this week's races? Who will be this week's winner and who will be voted off? 

First lets have a look at the host of this month's regatta, [port name]

[Add stock film from host organisation tourist board here]

BS (voiceover to clips of boats heading out and then nose diving)

But on with the first race, who will find glory and who will go for a swim?

BS

It was an exciting start, won by [boat name] and racing was close all the way round

Enter clips of boats near marks, too close to see where they are or what is going on, what the tactics are etc etc

BS

But there could be just the one winner, and this time it was [boat name]

Clips of: boat crossing line, crew cheering, checkered flag being waved by smiling young woman, skipper spraying champagne over crew etc etc

BS 

We had an exclusive interview with the winning skipper, [name]

Skipper

Well we were pretty pleased by that result

BS

Wow, wasn't that exciting!  Don't go away because after the break we'll have another race and there's bound to be drama all the way round!

Clip of boat nosediving:

Then ACWS end stock clip, followed by adverts

Back to ACWS start stock clip, followed by clips of clips of [port name], boats turning round mark, crew spraying champagne over each other etc

BS (voice over)

Welcome back to the America's Cup World Series event from [port name]! We've another exciting race here today, where anything could happen - and probably will!

BS

First a look at the body armour the sailors need and the reason why - take a look at this spectacular crash of the Oracle boat!!

BS (voiceover to clips of boats heading out and lining up for the start)

But on with the racing! It was an exciting start, won by [boat name] and racing was close all the way round

Enter clips of boats near marks, too close to see where they are or what is going on, what the tactics are etc etc

BS

But there could be just the one winner, and this time it was [boat name]

Clips of: boat crossing line, crew cheering, checkered flag being waved by smiling young woman, skipper spraying champagne over crew etc etc

BS 

We had an exclusive interview with the winning skipper, [name]

Skipper

Well we were pretty pleased by that result

BS

Wow, was that exciting!  What an event - we can only thank [port name] for being such brilliant hosts!! Next month we're off to [port name] for more America's Cup action. More drama than Formula F1 and a lot wetter! 

Clip of boat nosediving:

BS

See you in [port name]!!

Finally ACWS end stock clip and its a wrap.

YouTube ACWS Cascais

My PVR recorded a bit of the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) on late night TV and I can see why it was pushed the the early hours: it was just awful.  To be fair it was a half hour summary but even so pretty unwatchable and likely to be the subject of a future post.

But I found myself enjoying the full unedited final race available on YouTube (above). It was what they called "Super Sunday" the last race from that regatta with points that go forward to the real thing next year. Anyway what was important was that it was a match race of the new high tech wing catamarans - and one that mattered to the competitors.

One thing was clear - the organisers really like the idea of this being like Formula 1. They had champagne on the winning boat before anyone else had crossed the line for that all important spraying the crew shot, then before the skipper could really enjoy a glug a RIB was on hand to rush him ashore for a post race reaction. They even had a big checkered flag like this:

There were other innovations, like a sailing area they had to stick to. Indeed at the first cross I was wondering if that too would be different but apparently port must still give way to starboard.

Unlike the summary that re-cycled the same clips this was more informative and give a rather good augmented reality view of the course so you could follow what was happening:

Heading towards the windward mark:

But who entered the circle first?

Heading for the line:

Overall I rather enjoyed it and don't think the sailing area restriction harms it at all. It was sailing as we know it - sort of - but very fast, with all crew in the sort of protective gear they are currently giving out to TV crews in Tripoli.

There is alas no British boat so I supported one of the ex-colonies though I won't say which one.

The question I'm left with is this one: the next ACWS "Super Sunday" is in the UK - but far off in Plymouth.

Should I spend a day travelling for a race that takes around 40 minutes? Or should I watch in the comfort of home with access via laptop to helicopter camera live streams and digital overlays plus excellent tea making facilities?

Buff Staysail Phone Hacking Scandal

It is with a heavy heart that I must report that Buff Staysail has been implicated in the phone hacking scandal, and therefore this blog must issue a clear and unequivocal repudiation of his actions. Ok, say your piece Buff:

G'day all! Buff Staysail here, Buff by name and Buff by nature!

Well I don't know what to say, though my lawyer suggests something on the lines of deep regret, error of judgement bla bla ... but really, don't they know how are it is to make a living nowadays as a hack? - oops, I mean journo. It's not my fault, honest, its just too easy with the latest temporal phone-hack technology.

It's not like its going to harm anyone, is it? Take for example these answer phone messages from some famous sailors and their relatives:

[Penelope]: Hi Pen, its me Odysseus. Guess what - we won! Anyhow me and the boys (background sound of a girl giggling) are heading out to celebrate. I might be a bit late - don't wait up!

[Columbus]. This relates to your travel insurance application. I'm afraid that all travel west of the Canary Islands is explicitly excluded due to clause 34.1: "Sailing near the edge of the world". Please contact us if you still want to proceed.

[Drake]: That wasn't funny. Leave the King's beard alone - no more singeing, ok

[Morgan]: Bad news Captain, the Spanish rang and they want Panama back. Better make sure you leave it as you found it

[Kidd]: Hi Kidd, this is the Pirate's PR Agency. Listen, this is fixable. We've a plan involving the King's mistress and a stage show. Just send a gold bar or two round and we'll get cracking

[Cook]: Trust me Captain, Hawaii on Valentines Day is to die for!

[Nelson]: Hey sweetie its me, Emma (above). What's all this about you and Hardy kissing? Are you going all bi-curious on me? Ring me!

[Sir Thomas Lipton]: Stick to the day job, tea boy!!! (background chants of U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! etc)

Of course I might have missed a few, so please feel free to complete the list.

This is Buff Staysail, over and out when you hear the beep!

Buff's America's Cup Bid

G'day all! Buff Staysail here, Buff by name and Buff by nature!

Psst! Keep this one quiet will ya, got a wheeze to make your's truly loaded - and you too if want in. Buff Staysail is putting together an America's Cup syndicate. I've seen how there's big dosh to be made and I want some of it, and what's more I know how.

That Larry geezer missed a trick and Buff Enterprises is going to clean up - it should have gone to NY! This is how we make it work:

1. Mooring rights

Larry's first mistake was to go for real estate, 'cos that's limited by spare space, and there ain't much of that in the big apple. But you've got lots of water front, and just think of the money you could get by lining it with Cruise ships converted into appartments!! We're talking $$$ billions - and that leads me to the 2nd part of this scheme:

2. Short the property market

Now yours truly (actually holding company Buff ScrewU Inc) will create mind-blowing complex financial instruments that go short on what used to be NY waterfront properties that now just have views of our ships. When their value hits the floor our bank balance goes mental!! Of course it'll be routed via Mid West Main Street Family Bank so if it goes belly up the tax payers coughs up. But it won't cos of the next bit:

3. Radio Spectrum

What's worth more than property? Nothing! And the radio spectrum is just that - thin air! If NY want us there're going to have to give us 2 x 30 MHz spectrum to be taken from those lame-street broadcasters. With re-sell to the telcos we make billions and enter the high rollers and my yacht is bigger than yours. The final component is then:

4. Social Media and Marketing

It's all the buzz today, and we're going to tap in, by giving away all media - TV, games, web site, the lot - to anyone who subscribes via LinkedIn, Facebook, iPhone or Android app. And our app will suck all your connections and private data to Buff ScrewU offshore data farm (safely out of legal reach) for processing. With (say) 5 million users, each with 20 contacts we've got our mitts on 100m of the world's top people's inner secrets, and lets remember Facebook values each at $ 50 per user - that's serious money!

Timetable

Ok, we've got to get those ducks in a row. My biz plan says we can flog the AC for several billions, so our campaign budget will start at $ 500 million. But according to those lawyer folks we got to start the game rolling now. We need not just a wholly owned NY yacht club but one that has held at least one race a year over two years to pass Go, so we need to get cracking.

Here's the plan: we get together, set up a NY based yacht club, hold a race (Tillerman vs Adam will do, just 100 m then back to the bar) and we're in business. Bit of VC raising, do the rounds of Wall Street (they're going to love this) and we're in the money. IPO say 2014, laughing it in 2015.

Who's with me???!!!!!

A Buff Christmas Carol

G'day all, Buff Staysail here - Buff by name and Buff by nature!

Yours truly has got a ripper of a story to tell: Buff's been visited by the 2010 ghosts of Bloggers Past, Present and Future!! No doubt they heard all that Bah Humbugs that JP was posting earlier this month!

And these three wraiths have shaken me to my core as they took me on a whirlwind tour of Buff's past, present and future.

The first took me back to the days of the pirates, when Buccaneer Buff went searching for Execution Dock along the dark streets of London.

The second took me to the present, and the creation of a new Phonetic Alphabet by Britney U2 Facebook Facebook (gedditt!!)

Finally the third took me into the future, and Buff Junior's post on the 2028 America's Cup: it was a shock to hear of my own death. Strewth, I'm a trembling still.

 For once ol' Buff is lost for words, so what can I say but:

"I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"

Re-running the original America's Cup

The oldest international sporting competition, the America's Cup, was born 159 years ago in 1851. Amongst the spectators was Queen Victoria (above - also see story in post below) who asked who came second and was told "there was no second."

Named after the first winner, the yacht America, the prize is the more correctly called R.Y.S £100 cup, though engraved in the inaccurate 100 guinea cup (thanks Wikipedia).

And this year there will be a friendly re-match, with the UK's Team Origin challenging BMW Oracle on the same course around the Isle of Wight as part of the Round the Island race.

It'll give a chance to see Ben Ainslie go up against Jimmy Spithill, though using ACC designs not wing sails. There is alas no "Concorde" style super yacht being designed somewhere on the shores of the Solent.

More from the Sunday Times here.

America's Cup 2028

BJ: G'day guys! It's Buff Junior here - Junior by name and junior by brain! I'm here on behalf of Queensland Community Cloud and JP's representing ye olde bloggers, say hello JP

JP: Hi all

BJ: And first a big thanks to all those kind words about my uncle, ol' Buff Staysail, what can I say, all choked up

JP: It's the way BS would have wanted to go, Junior. Drowned after capsizing a Laser while sailing on a vat of the amber nectar.

BJ: But enough reminiscing, it's time for the 2028 America's Cup, being virtualized live from Rio de Janerio, with the first race about to start.

JP: So lock your cloud-pad to the Google-Sail channel. Thanks of course to Google-Sail to providing real-time streaming data feeds including wave mapping, lidar wind measurements for the sail-zone, and full archival facilities so we can re-sail these matches over the cloud at any time in the future. Of course there are some dis-

Google Sail Adverts: Fantastic life style hats and goodies available now! Just make the buy gesture now and we'll scan your face, get ID match, charge your PayBuddy account, and dispatch, all automatically.

BJ: - but no one prosecuted him. And those wanting to follow the Sail-XXXX co-race, it's live on augmented overlay as we speak.

JP: Yup, that's been a lot of fun, joining and racing the actual AC fleet in real time on virtual communities. I think the video chat mode really adds to the experience

BJ: And its a good thing that boat location sensors are mandatory so that all protesting and judging can be done automatically or things could have got nasty.

JP: I tell you, it was a programming glitch, the iRules site clearly doesn't understand 3.52k

BJ: Enough of that, the two finalists are entering the start area, and we're about to see some real racing. The two skippers meet at last -

Google-Sail: Get your steam powered JetSki's 20% off now! Say "Wow" now for voice scan and we'll transfer you direct to the O'Docker Spring Sale!

JP: - with Sabrine behind the sail wing lock-up, completely naked - but enough of that, might be children on-feed. Wasn't it a great Facepad Challengers Series?

BJ: Fantastic! That final where China just pipped USA on the last downwind leg!

JP: Their hull shape tweak program is clearly superior. I heard the USA hull only had two settings, upwind and downwind

BJ: That's not much is it? China really has got the edge of memory and electro-form structures, that can re-shape the bow at the touch of a button, and they have hull-trimmers that really know their stuff.

JP: A shame about the English boat - well they did get to the semi's, before the USA team knocked them out.

BJ: You're not still blaming the sinking of St. George on sabotage by the Welsh Republic, JP? They lost fair and square - though not the epic battle of China vs. the New Iranian Republic.

JP: Re-sailing the race on virtual sail the English team had a 23.7% probability of winning. But at least that decade long legal battle is finally out of the way.

BJ: Amen to that. And it worked out fine, with the rejected foiling technology being picked up by the Red Bull Round the World Race, while adaptive hull technology was accepted, though not-

Google-Sail: Red Bull discount offer! Nod your head now if interested in entering for the chance for a ride on the Red Bull Round the World Race in-port events! Purchase and ID public mode required

BJ: -the two boats are lined up for the start, Brazil to port, getting powered up, really making some way, have they timed this right?

JP: That doesn't look right, at this rate they'll be across the line early

BJ: China leading, Brazil just behind, matching them move for move

JP: Oh my god! Did you see that!

BJ: Wow! The Chinese boat re-shaped their bow into a flat surface, breaking them just enough to be this side of the line as the gun went. We haven't seen that before, a super weapon for the finals.

JP: And Brazil were early! They are having to return!

BJ: On the Chocolate Factory augmented overlay you can see that the idealised virtual competition is slightly ahead, but not by much, so China is working at 99.98% close to optimum efficiency.

JP: Brazil are across the line, they're in chase mode, this will be a Cup Race to remember -

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END

A Poem for the America's Cup

The Poet Laureate is the official bard of the royal family. It's a traditional post that goes back hundreds of years and holders of it include William Wordsworth, Lord Tennyson, John Masefield, John Betjeman and Ted Hughes.

There's been quite a variety of topics for their works, from wandering as lonely as a cloud to the sea fever that sailors get.

And today we have another, namely the skills of that great footballer David Beckham. The current holder, Carol Ann (no not that one, her surname is Duffy) is a big fan of the beautiful game and morns the loss of one of England's finest from the coming World Cup - and rightly too.

But where are the great poets for the sailing competitions of today? Did any crafter of words become inspired by the 33rd America's Cup? I would like to say I leapt at the chance to fill this gap but poetry is not my forte

Is there, then, someone out there who will be able to record for literary posterity something that captured the essence of the contest?

In order to show how low the threshold of quality really is, here are some lines using the structure of a limerick drafted by yours truly:

There was a young man named Ernesto

Who loved to race with a gusto

On loosing AC-33

Said Larry with glee

It’s time he hung up his Mustos

Oh dear! Please put us all out of our misery!

AC-33: Buff's Commentary

Howdy folks! Buff Staysail here, Buff by name and Buff by nature.

Well, what a blast of an America's Cup that was! Yours truly has only just got over the highs and lows of a week in Valencia. And let me tell you, my throat is just about done from commentating on those races.

Yup, it was up to me to keep the viewers of Queensland Community TV (figures show up 50% - thanks mum!) informed with a second by second account of the action.

How do you do that? You may well ask - I heard that one other feed you could clearly hear in the background someone say "keep talking!" but there was no such need for QCTV.

It's a sign of an experienced commentator that is prepared with a strategy to get you through the 4 hours of a typical race. The key to my success is to have a set of standard comments and then cycle them at random.

AC-33 was no exception, and I was all ready with:

• Alinghi are rapidly catching up!
• BMW Oracle are increasing their lead!
• What a lethal winning machine is that awesome wing!
• The wing is bigger than that of a Boeing 747!
• These boats sail around three times faster than the wind!
• I'm not sure if Alinghi has its windward hull out of the water!
• Look at all that high tech carbon fibre - these are really spaceships!
• Look at them go - over twenty knots!
• Jimmy Spithill's ruck-sack is literally packed with electronics!
• Jimmy Spithill's sun glasses use space age head up display technology!
• Of course Russell Coutts hasn't lost an America's Cup yet!
• When fully aloft the crew are thirty feet off the sea!
• They said BMW Oracle would struggle in light winds - well they were wrong!
• It was a long wait to see these boats race but it was worth it!
• Valencia has been a fantastic host for these races!
• Will the America's Cup being coming home?
• Alinghi have yet to make their penalty turn!
• It's a drag race for the mark!
• Look at the way the wing segments are angled and adjusted second by second!
• Look at the way Alinghi's traveller is moving back and forth, adjusting for gusts!
• I think Alinghi's got a lift!
• BMW Oracle are pointing higher and going faster!
• ...

By saying these at random its possible to work on the important things - like admiring the delectable Sabine (only joking, big misunderstanding that, but banning yours truly from press conferences was a real over-reaction). If things slow put on a limey accent and pretend to be someone else!

But Buff, you ask, what happens when you say Alinghi are catching up when the VMG shows BMW Oracle extending their lead? No problem - just remember that half your audience aren't listening and the other half can't read the screen. In the unlikely event they are listening and can read and furthermore understand they will be feeling slightly smug, so everyone's a winner.

I heard one commentator recorded his selection on an iPhone and then put it on shuffle, which made me laugh. It reminded me of the Cup when old Bobbie (so sad, poor chap, unfortunate accident with his trusty pipe and a leaking gas tank) and I competed to see how many imaginary sailing terms we could make up and include in our descriptions of what then was those 12 metre boats.

Ah, happy days.....

AC-33: USA-17 and the Lamborghini

The 33rd America's Cup was clearly an extravagant way for two billionaires to sort out their differences. The boats they came up with are a million miles from what you and I sail, unless you are a Silicon Valley billionaire.

Take that wing thing - how exactly do you reef it? Lets say the weather picks up and it's getting a bit hairy what's the plan exactly? Go aloft with a screwdriver and lower a segment or two down to the deck only to find there isn't one?

But at the same time it was awesome, to see those giant multi-hulls absolutely scream along at speeds usually above 20 knots and sometimes 30 when the real wind speed was a fraction of that.

To me it felt a bit like a super car. A Lamborghini is absolutely useless as a family wagon, no good for the weekly shop, and redundant in the traffic jams of central London.

But as a symbol of what can be done, how form and function can be welded together into a beautiful whole, move with power and grace, effortlessly, it works.

And I felt that about BMW Oracle's USA-17. It appealed to the inner space cadet nerd, who thrilled at how each of the wing components could be independently adjusted, to Jimmy Spithill's back-pack powered head up display sun-glasses.

It brought out the inner eight year old who's into something that looks so cool.

But please BMW Oracle, do not use the phrase "Mission Accomplished" - it brings back a lot of bad memories.

AC-33: Race 2

I missed the start of yesterday's race (above), so pretty much the first thing I caught was the cross just prior to the first mark. Alinghi had to tack slightly above the line letting BMW Oracle whiz by:

BMW Oracle's line up to the top mark was simply brilliant: kudos to JK:

So around the mark they went....

Then it was a drag race to the 2nd mark, and BMW Oracle powered up and put their foot to the floor leaving Alinghi visibly dropping behind in their wake:

BMW Oracle was steaming away - here hitting 31.1 knots:

After the 2nd mark, Alinghi seemed to be yawing a lot more than BMW Oracle, hunting for the angle that just keeps the 2nd hull flying. BMW Oracle must have been doing their tweaking by simply the adjusting the wing segments:

Alinghi vented some water ballast again - maybe because the winds were lighter and so less righting weight was required (though it did look a bit like someone had gone to the heads and they didn't have any holding tanks):

BMW Oracle had to do one final gybe before squaring off directly towards the line:

And finally after hundreds of millions of dollars and years of lawsuits, it was victory as BMW Oracle crossed the line, winning the race and the America's Cup.

AC-33: Oracle BMW wins the America's Cup

Congrats BMW Oracle for winning the America's Cup!

What can I post but the wonderful YouTube clip of this amazing boat.

AC-33: Butterworth's reaction

Adam quoted the moment when Butterworth glared at the person who dared ask about the design differences and replied with a question "Did you watch the race?"

But just before that he managed a rye smile and asked "What can I say?" (above).

What could he say? Their boat was slower on conditions that should have suited them.

After all those millions upon millions of dollars, endless battles in the courts, and years of work, yup, what can one say.

Except see you Sunday.

AC-33: How to make Ernesto smile

Simple: ask him if he wished his was bigger! Was that a hint that our old friend Buff is somewhere in the audience?

Apart from that rather a grim set of faces from Alinghi at the press conferences. Indeed Ernesto several times talked about there being just the one more race to go, rather than the potential two.

But as they agreed they don't have time to build a wing by Sunday, just do some tweaks.

"Lets see" said designer Rolf Vrolijk:

But the odds on the Betfair market say another story. Alinghi are now at 3.2 while BMW Oracle are a wafer thin 1.06.

As Queen Victoria was once told, "there is no second".

AC-33 Race 1

What a great race! I was at home "writing" but to be honest not much got done, as glued to the computer.

There was a bit of waiting for conditions to be right and then the pre-start gun went on the 33rd America's cup.

And immediately there was drama with a port vs starboard protest followed by the big BMW Oracle trimaran stalling on the wrong side of the start line.

Alinghi grabbed the moment and was first to cross, opening up a 600 m lead. But it didn't last, as BMW Oracle recovered and went storming in pursuit.

All too often it was the cat that had both hulls on the water while the tri was flying. BMW Oracle was sailing higher and faster and the Swiss's lead vanished. From about a third of the way up the way to the upwind mark the American boat took the lead and never seemed to be in any danger.

One clear difference was the ability of the solid sail or wing to change it shape. This pic shows the sharp angle between leading and trailing bits of the wing, here on the downwind leg:

For comparison, Alinghi's soft sail was pulled straight - for both upwind and downwind legs:

Alinghi tried altering the balance by loading or dumping water, but it didn't help:

But the finishing line was in sight for BMW Oracle, and James Spithill just had to keep calm and keep his hat on.

So BMW Oracle got there first, a well deserved win, and the wing certainly showing its strengths both upwind and downwind.

At the end Alinghi did it's 270 degree turn but seemed to do it on the wrong side of the line and hence had to go back and cross the line again.

That's one up for the USA, with the next race on Sunday.

AC-33: Wings 1, Sails 0

AC-33 Online

What a great start!

If you're having trouble with the video on the AC official site the stream on the BMW Oracle site is flowing very nicely.

I should be writing today but this is too distracting.....