"Oracle is the team that began with a huge technological
advantage, generated from the research and development of the giant wing-sailed trimaran, USA-17."
because there were no more suitable materials that could be used – Lady Helmsman’s wing mast (and she won three consecutive Little America’s Cups) weighed 160lbs, but the hulls were designed to cope with the added pressure it developed. Maybe there’s a lesson for future designers to consider. Now, however, the problem remains and is at the forefront of the minds of those who have proposed changes to the class rules for safety purposes. Too late for the changes to the hulls of the boats that are to take part in the much-reduced Louis Vuitton Cup, but there could be time for modifications to take place on the defender, although, sadly, that is highly unlikely. It is not one of the 37 safety items being reviewed. What is being reviewed, is the proposal to limit the wind speed in July to 20 knots, and that doesn’t find agreement with Grant Dalton and his ETNZ team. They designed and built their AC-72 according to the promise of Russell Coutts when he announced, on behalf of the Golden Gate YC and Oracle, that the boats would be able to race in 3-33 knots of wind. As July is a breezy month in the Bay, It is perhaps as well that there is only one likely race scheduled (because Artemis will not be taking part) in the first Round Robin. An even bigger question in whether or not the Swedish team (now the Challenger of Record) will take part in any of the remaining Rounds Robin until August 1st.
In those 12 races, Artemis is scheduled for eight. Should
they not turn up for these, the winner between ETNZ and Luna Rossa will have a bye to the final while the loser will race Artemis for the other place for the Louis Vuitton Cup. Only after that is the racing back on schedule, and
8 Image credit: ACEA / Giles Martin Raget.
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