These boats are moving at speeds of up to 50 mph... Check it!
http://www.youtube.com/v/zY5S66FGfTM
America's Cup... This aint Yacht racing! You're 100% right Bridgetroll this race is about Billionaires and Cheaters!
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 10:30:08 AM
America's Cup... This aint Yacht racing! You're 100% right Bridgetroll this race is about Billionaires and Cheaters!
Whatever... did ya watch the damn video? ::) :o
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 10, 2013, 10:40:17 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 10:30:08 AM
America's Cup... This aint Yacht racing! You're 100% right Bridgetroll this race is about Billionaires and Cheaters!
Whatever... did ya watch the damn video? ::) :o
Whatever... did ya watch the damn video? I did one better bridgetroll I watched it live on TV! So I didn't have to watch your DAMN VIDEO! And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!
wonderful... :o
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 10, 2013, 10:57:33 AM
wonderful... :o
THE SCANDAL: Oracle Team USA was caught illegally modifying 45-foot catamarans that were used in the warmup regattas called the America's Cup World Series. An international jury issued the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup. Besides docking Oracle two points, wing trimmer Dirk de Ridder was booted from the regatta, along with two shore crew members. Grinder Matt Mitchell was banned from the first four races and the syndicate was fined $250,000. Although Spithill and syndicate CEO Russell Coutts were never implicated, the jury said it "seems inconceivable that boat riggers initiated these changes without the knowledge of managers, or the direction of sailors, if not skippers." Spithill has been almost defiant, saying Oracle is a clear underdog. He also called on locals to support the crew. "We want to keep the Cup here. These guys don't," he said at a news conference, referring to ETNZ skipper Dean Barker and trimmer Glenn Ashby. "We're counting on San Franciscans to come out and support us." http://www.kens5.com/sports/222745541.html
JFC, IILY....
Two things about racing that you obviously need to understand:
1.) "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'." ~ Unknown
AND
2.) "If you ain't first, you're last." ~ Ricky Bobby
The rest of it is just gamesmanship. Give it a rest. ::)
The video is incredible... the speed, San francisco bay, alcatraz, golden gate... too cool... 8)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 10, 2013, 11:12:53 AM
The video is incredible... the speed, San francisco bay, alcatraz, golden gate... too cool... 8)
I skipped ahead and watched a few minutes, and I have to agree - it was pretty cool to see. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue about the tactics used, strategy or sailing in general, but the part I watched had quite a few tacks from the New Zealand team in which the US Team had ROW(?), so they couldn't quite seem to pass. This was just after the US took them over after Alcatraz.
If I were flipping channels and caught this, I'd probably stay there for a while, so thanks for the post.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 11:10:34 AM
JFC, IILY....
Two things about racing that you obviously need to understand:
1.) "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'." ~ Unknown
AND
2.) "If you ain't first, you're last." ~ Ricky Bobby
The rest of it is just gamesmanship. Give it a rest. ::)
"An international jury issued the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup." Non-RedNeck Westsider is proud that America cheats :o and this is gamesmanship in his eyes? God I pray you are not raising any children with this kind of Attitude? ::)
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 11:25:33 AM
"An international jury issued the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup." Non-RedNeck Westsider is proud that America cheats :o and this is gamesmanship in his eyes? God I pray you are not raising any children with this kind of Attitude? ::)
Hahahaha... you're so f'ing idyllic. Is there room in your plastic bubble for one more?
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 11:35:42 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 11:25:33 AM
"An international jury issued the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup." Non-RedNeck Westsider is proud that America cheats :o and this is gamesmanship in his eyes? God I pray you are not raising any children with this kind of Attitude? ::)
Hahahaha... you're so f'ing idyllic. Is there room in your plastic bubble for one more?
No your head takes up to much space?
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 11:42:32 AM
No your head takes up to much space?
Are you asking me or telling me?
Somewhat back to topic....
Why are you against America's team in the race that BT posted, IILY?
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 12:09:45 PM
Somewhat back to topic....
Why are you against America's team in the race that BT posted, IILY?
Larry Ellison/Oracle has been the worst thing that has happen to the America's Cup in years! So if you Cheat and get caught like Team Oracle has done. Why in the World would I put my support behind them just because they are the American's Team? I love America but this isn't what America should be teaching anyone "If you can't Win Cheat?" BS!
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 12:09:45 PM
Somewhat back to topic....
Why are you against America's team in the race that BT posted, IILY?
Larry Ellison/Oracle has been the worst thing that has happen to the America's Cup in years! So if you Cheat and get caught like Team Oracle has done. Why in the World would I put my support behind them just because they are the American's Team? I love America but this isn't what America should be teaching anyone "If you can't Win Cheat?" BS!
Sure. But they were caught cheating on the 45' boats and this is a 72' race? Do you disown the entire team? Do you really pull for the Kiwis? And I'm not claiming to know anything about sailing or the like, but after a bit of reading, I agree that the penalties don't fit the crime. Why weren't they just stripped of the event they won WHILE cheating and fined? If a NASCAR team alters a car in a Nationwide race, should it affect the team in the Sprint Cup race? I don't think it should, but that seems to be what's happening here.
And with regards to this being "...harshest penalties in the 162-year history...", it was far from the worst example of cheating that I've read about so far, but when the $$$$ goes up, so does the punishment.
Besides, based on the comment I highlighted above, I would assume that you're more upset that they were caught.
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 10, 2013, 11:12:53 AM
The video is incredible... the speed, San francisco bay, alcatraz, golden gate... too cool... 8)
Thanks for posting. Normally I wouldn't pay any attention to this event, but my wife and I were in San Francisco earlier this year and we saw all of the preparations around the Embarcadero, so when NBCSN started televising the races I tuned in just to see how it turned out, and to see the scenery. I still don't understand the rules, and I may never pay attention to this event again, but I have to say it's pretty cool.
Quote from: Ajax on September 10, 2013, 12:47:15 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 10, 2013, 11:12:53 AM
The video is incredible... the speed, San francisco bay, alcatraz, golden gate... too cool... 8)
Thanks for posting. Normally I wouldn't pay any attention to this event, but my wife and I were in San Francisco earlier this year and we saw all of the preparations around the Embarcadero, so when NBCSN started televising the races I tuned in just to see how it turned out, and to see the scenery. I still don't understand the rules, and I may never pay attention to this event again, but I have to say it's pretty cool.
I think the last time I watched they were actually racing the yacht style sailboats... the speeds of those are about half of these huge cats. The speed boats were having to go very fast to keep up with these things...
These aren't the same tyeps of boats that run in our local Mug Race, are they?
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 12:38:15 PM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 10, 2013, 12:09:45 PM
Somewhat back to topic....
Why are you against America's team in the race that BT posted, IILY?
Larry Ellison/Oracle has been the worst thing that has happen to the America's Cup in years! So if you Cheat and get caught like Team Oracle has done. Why in the World would I put my support behind them just because they are the American's Team? I love America but this isn't what America should be teaching anyone "If you can't Win Cheat?" BS!
Sure. But they were caught cheating on the 45' boats and this is a 72' race? Do you disown the entire team? Do you really pull for the Kiwis? And I'm not claiming to know anything about sailing or the like, but after a bit of reading, I agree that the penalties don't fit the crime. Why weren't they just stripped of the event they won WHILE cheating and fined? If a NASCAR team alters a car in a Nationwide race, should it affect the team in the Sprint Cup race? I don't think it should, but that seems to be what's happening here.
And with regards to this being "...harshest penalties in the 162-year history...", it was far from the worst example of cheating that I've read about so far, but when the $$$$ goes up, so does the punishment.
Besides, based on the comment I highlighted above, I would assume that you're more upset that they were caught.
Don't forget NRNW "You should never assume. You know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of you and me because that's how it's spelled." I'm upset that Team Oracle thought they needed to cheat. Larry Ellison one of of the biggest Narcissists has brought shame to a great sport. So go ahead and twist what you want to hear but I'M GLAD TEAM ORACLE WAS CAUGHT!
The America's cup has always been about the uber-rich right from the beginning. And there has been cheating before, too.
Quote from: Dog Walker on September 10, 2013, 01:57:35 PM
The America's cup has always been about the uber-rich right from the beginning. And there has been cheating before, too.
Come on just because it's happen in the past we shouldn't give Team Oracle and Narcissist Ellison a pass? Why do we have Rules?
This is good... a Nascar style start... with a wreck... 8)
http://www.youtube.com/v/JLX1XPCQodk
USA...USA...USA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/americas-cup_n_3986339.html
QuoteAmerica's Cup: Oracle Team USA Stages Historic Comeback; Epic Finale Looms
By BERNIE WILSON 09/24/13 08:33 PM ET EDT
SAN FRANCISCO -- SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The longest America's Cup in history will come down to two 72-foot, space-age catamarans making a final, dramatic sprint around San Francisco Bay, on a five-leg course framed by the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
Skipper Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA saw to that by extending their almost unimaginable winning streak to seven on Tuesday to force a winner-take-all finale against Emirates Team New Zealand.
Oracle came through a wild start with two collisions to win Race 17, and then sped past the Kiwis after they made a tactical error to give up the lead in Race 18 in strong wind.
All but defeated a week ago, Oracle Team USA tied the faltering Kiwis 8-8 on the scoreboard by winning its 10th race overall. Oracle was docked two points for illegally modifying boats in warmup regattas and Dirk de Ridder, who trimmed the 131-foot wing sail, was disqualified.
If it hadn't been hit with the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup, Oracle Team USA's sailors would be hoisting the oldest trophy in international sports in victory and spraying each other with champagne.
Instead, the epic 19th race is scheduled for Wednesday, weather-permitting, on San Francisco Bay.
Either Oracle will finish one of the greatest comebacks in sports history or Team New Zealand, marooned on match point for the past week, will get the win it needs to claim the Auld Mug for the second time in 18 years and ease the nerves of the 4.5 million residents of the island nation.
Oracle has gotten faster as it's made changes to its black cat every night in its big boatshed on Pier 80 and has steadily learned to sail it better under the watchful eye of team CEO Russell Coutts, a four-time America's Cup winner.
But there's a bigger reason Oracle is still alive.
"Never giving up," Spithill said.
The 34-year-old Australian has been almost defiant in leading his well-funded, deep team after it was penalized just four days before the sailing began.
"I really feel it's because we've been through such hard times in this campaign that it's prepared us for this situation," Spithill said. "I spoke yesterday a lot about the capsize and stuff like that and what went on before this regatta. This team has just been through so much and some incredibly difficult times. Those were key moments, we needed those key moments to prepare us as a team."
Oracle's first boat capsized in October and its wing sail was destroyed, costing the team four months of training time until a new one arrived from New Zealand.
Barker, the losing skipper in the 2003 and 2007 America's Cup, looked deflated after the double losses.
"We got beaten today, and that's tough to handle, but sometimes you just have to accept that," he said. "It's frustrating, but we know we can still win this, and we will go out there and give it absolutely everything we can tomorrow."
Spithill may very well have gotten into the heads of Barker and the Kiwi crew on Sept. 12. With Oracle trailing 6 to minus-1, he said: "I think the question is, imagine if these guys lost from here, what an upset that would be. They've almost got it in the bag. That's my motivation."
On Tuesday, Spithill said: "It's not over. That's the key point here is, we've got to finish it off."
In terms of drama, this America's Cup rivals the 1983 regatta, when Australia II rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat Dennis Conner in seven races to end the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak.
Tuesday's races were so pivotal that software billionaire Larry Ellison, who owns Oracle Team USA, skipped making a keynote speech before 60,000 people at Oracle Open World so he could witness the comeback firsthand from a chase boat on the bay.
Barker dominated Spithill at the start of Race 18 and beat him to the first mark with his 72-foot catamaran, allowing the Kiwis to control the race.
The Kiwis led by 7 seconds rounding the second gate mark before committing the blunder that cost them the lead and, perhaps, the America's Cup.
Team New Zealand tacked too early heading into the first cross going upwind and slowed dramatically as the boats zigzagged toward the Golden Gate Bridge on the only windward leg on the course. The American-backed boat — with only one American on its 11-man crew — went speeding past and built its lead to more than 1,000 yards on the windward fourth leg going past Alcatraz Island.
The final margin was 54 seconds. Spithill did a flyby of Pier 27-29, with his crew lining the port hull to wave and pump their fists toward the crowd.
Oracle, which trailed 8-1 last Wednesday, has dramatically increased its speed sailing upwind after struggling repeatedly against the Kiwis earlier in the regatta. As it overhauled the Kiwis in Race 18, Oracle's hulls were out of the water, riding on hydrofoils.
"I think it's fairly clear to see that we could have tacked pretty much anywhere and we would have been behind at the end of that leg," Barker said. "They were going pretty damn well. This was the first time that we've recognized that there was a condition where we're maybe not as strong as we need to be. It's tough because you're doing everything you can. The guys never gave up, but clearly the Oracle guys were going pretty well in that stuff."
Earlier, Oracle forced Emirates Team New Zealand into two penalties during the wild start of Race 17 and won by 27 seconds.
Spithill appeared in trouble just before the start but hooked behind Barker into a favored leeward position as the boats jockeyed just inside the Golden Gate Bridge. The 72-foot catamarans touched, and Oracle tactician Ben Ainslie yelled at the Kiwis to tack away. They collided again, this time harder, with Ainslie gesturing angrily.
Team New Zealand sat dead in the water to clear the penalties as Oracle pulled away — and stayed ahead the whole way around the course.
Spithill and his mates are the first to win seven straight races in an America's Cup match. There have been three five-race winning streaks when the Cup was best-of-9. This regatta started as best-of-17, but Oracle will need to win 11 races to keep the Cup.
Oracle has twice trailed by seven points, most recently when Team New Zealand won Race 11 on Wednesday for an 8-1 lead.
After Oracle won Race 12, Team New Zealand was denied the chance to seize the Cup when Race 13 was abandoned because of a 40-minute time limit with the Kiwis well ahead in light wind. When the race was resailed in a better breeze, Oracle won to begin its winning streak.
With the two victories Tuesday, Oracle Team USA has won for the ninth time in 13 races since Ainslie, a British Olympic star, replaced American John Kostecki as tactician. Ainslie has teamed with Australian strategist Tom Slingsby, also an Olympic gold medalist, to help guide Spithill around the course.
It's been an agonizing week for New Zealanders, who've been getting up early to watch the races on TV.
At the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Wellington, Kate Robinson said that she had been rooting for Spithill a week ago as Oracle struggled.
"I wanted him to do better," she said. "But not this well."
And if Team New Zealand loses?
"I'll probably cry," she said. And she wasn't joking.
I'll be at someone's condo 19 floors above Russian Hill and the bay today at 1:15 to watch the final race...this has become very interesting...will take some photos because the view from up there is spectacular and it's basically waterfront on a hill between GG bridge and Coit, precisely where the race is.
Quote from: simms3 on September 25, 2013, 11:05:34 AM
I'll be at someone's condo 19 floors above Russian Hill and the bay today at 1:15 to watch the final race...this has become very interesting...will take some photos because the view from up there is spectacular and it's basically waterfront on a hill between GG bridge and Coit, precisely where the race is.
I know the area well... should be a great place to watch... Is it very windy today?
looks like we just retained that bitch
We win! A huge underdog... come from behind win! I hope we keep this format... the speed of those boats is phenomenal! 8)
(http://blog.sfgate.com/americascup/files/2013/05/all-signals-go-for-oracle-team-usa-17.jpg)
Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!
This would indeed be a great come back story if Oracle had not been penalized for cheating and if so much of the entire AC had not been fought in the courts. In many ways, NZ deserved this win a bit more than the US did. But in the end, the fastest, higher tech boat sailed by superb sailors came out on top. Luck of the draw as well as Oracle is a bit of a condition boat so it could have just as easily gone the other way.
I hope they DO NOT sail again in these boats. While awesome to watch, they are just too expensive and temperamental. If you enjoy the idea of sailboat racing, check out videos of some of the match racing as that will give you an idea of what it is really like and is certainly more interesting all the time than the AC was. A simple, one design type format for the AC would net many, many more teams for both the challengers (them) and the defenders (us) and that would be a spectacle worth spending money to go see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0uRrasHOw
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 25, 2013, 06:37:15 PM
(http://blog.sfgate.com/americascup/files/2013/05/all-signals-go-for-oracle-team-usa-17.jpg)
Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!
WTF are you talking about?
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 10:55:45 AM
Whatever... did ya watch the damn video? I did one better bridgetroll I watched it live on TV! So I didn't have to watch your DAMN VIDEO! And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
]Larry Ellison/Oracle has been the worst thing that has happen to the America's Cup in years! So if you Cheat and get caught like Team Oracle has done. Why in the World would I put my support behind them just because they are the American's Team? I love America but this isn't what America should be teaching anyone "If you can't Win Cheat?" BS!
Quote from: strider on September 25, 2013, 07:31:10 PM
I hope they DO NOT sail again in these boats. While awesome to watch, they are just too expensive and temperamental. If you enjoy the idea of sailboat racing, check out videos of some of the match racing as that will give you an idea of what it is really like and is certainly more interesting all the time than the AC was.
The matches are more fun in some ways (more boats), but they have actually used similar boats as this year's AC boats for a few years now - the new sail, hull, and rigging aren't entirely novel to this year (last year's fleet week in SF Bay had a regatta with 15 smaller but very similar boats)...but the enhancements and the size of the boats and the number of boats each team had to build (plus # crew and new training) were new and what drove up the price.
Watching these in person can't be paralleled - they are so large and move at 35-45 kts on the water (up to 50+ mph for the unwashed boaters :) ). Smaller traditional keelboats or catamarans are now so boring to watch, even in person, in comparison. There are regattas nearly every weekend in SF Bay...I see many in person and nothing compares to the "just 2" AC boats out there racing each other...it's the difference between car racing on TV and car racing in person; no comparison. There are also regattas with many smaller versions of these larger AC boats, too, and those are fun! Jax as a waterfront city completely misses out on being a destination for yachting, sailing, and general boating...it's so depressing when I come home and never see any boats out on the water.
I will post pics later when I get home.
edit: I should clarify, there are AC45 boats that have been used in the AC World Series over the past few years, leading up to this year's AC. Artemis Racing, New Zealand, and all of the typical countries' best teams competed using basically the same boats, just smaller.
The actual AC with just 2 challengers and 1 defender used larger "AC72" boats. SF has already hosted AC World Series regattas with this class of boat and those who watch sailing have already been exposed since 2010-2011. Question is, will this high tech boat continue to be used? Sailing over the past few years has become more similar to car racing, where engineering is half of the battle/cool factor, and racing is the other half...but who knows? It's up to the defender, which is the GG Yacht Club again and likely Larry Ellison and Team Oracle again - and they love their home turf and these boat designs (they chose them back in 2010 to begin with).
I finally got home :'( Pics from today. I promised a view from high up in a condo, but since the condo is set back from the waterfront so far, we decided to go to the Marina Green right near the host yacht club...Golden Gate Yacht Club. We got a good "spectator" view in a comfortable neighborhood (most folks I was with live in the Marina and took rest of day off to go party). I had to walk to a relatively nearby destination for a meeting afterward, so I caught a few cityscape pics of the surrounding neighbs.
Pics from the neighborhood - the Marina/Cow Hollow.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013065_zpsc0c062f0.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013010_zps0238bec2.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013011_zps532db309.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013012_zpsb0eae2ca.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013013_zps3920316b.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013014_zps19d37715.jpg)
THE WATERFRONT
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013017_zps37ca2c5b.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013018_zps13b8397f.jpg)
(Before it got crowded)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013019_zps3660490f.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013020_zpsd7657713.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013024_zpsf3282e53.jpg)
Berkeley in the distance.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013025_zps5b78e670.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013026_zpse50ceb7f.jpg)
Belvedere Island where the median household price exceeds $6.7mm :o
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013028_zps11208f63.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013029_zps658e5a62.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013033_zps440f6115.jpg)
THE RACE
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013035_zps630ef898.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013036_zps5e95d8da.jpg)
For perspective/scale:
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013039_zps9b377ed3.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013042_zpseaf1c2b1.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013044_zps0d273acc.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013046_zpsc4332e0a.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013047_zps5021db57.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013049_zpsfb86bb1d.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013051_zps95b066ce.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013052_zpsb30a6293.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013053_zps0c7ed608.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013054_zps283d1bb4.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013055_zps76917b1c.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013057_zps887abe00.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013062_zps3ed2d936.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013063_zps6e5bb38e.jpg)
BONUS: CITYSCAPE SHOTS OF SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS
Single family neighborhood of Pacific/Presidio Heights where homes routinely cost $20-30mm for something less "large" as an oceanfront home in PVB or waterfront home in San Marco or Ortega. Larry Ellison (Oracle founder, Team Oracle leader) lives in this neighborhood on "Billionaire's Row" where I believe a couple dozen billionaires live. :o Their kids all end up living in the Marina where we were for race.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013066_zps23484768.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013068_zps068da095.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013071_zps502a6a65.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013073_zps01bdff46.jpg)
I was going to be in the condo in the dead center with the 2-floor PH level (it's about 30-35 floors and only tippy top shows). Former secretary of state under Reagan George Schultz lives in there just above the residents I know...security is very tight, yet it's such an old dated building (as is everything in the city). It's like the old Beau Rivage condos in Avondale, except no air conditioning and prices starting at $2mm, LoL.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013074_zps15a42ca4.jpg)
Looking over the marina district.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013075_zps1ea4dcc4.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013076_zpsd1e81904.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013078_zpsf0171991.jpg)
Looking towards the dead center of town.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013079_zps74b306c8.jpg)
Fort Mason.
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013081_zps1048a386.jpg)
Palace of Fine Arts, featured prominently in the movie I Think I Married an Axe Murderer
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013082_zps3fdcbcff.jpg)
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013083_zpsde577e95.jpg)
Ships docked in the bay, from my office. 2 large Post Panamax container ships joined them later today...was a lot of ships in queue to berth at either Richmond (tankers) or Oakland (containers).
(http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad1/jsimms3/AmericasCup2013090_zps172d429a.jpg)
Awesome pix Simms... Thanx! Looks to me like SF figured out how to make Yacht Racing a spectator sport! 8)
Quote from: strider on September 25, 2013, 07:31:10 PM
This would indeed be a great come back story if Oracle had not been penalized for cheating and if so much of the entire AC had not been fought in the courts. In many ways, NZ deserved this win a bit more than the US did. But in the end, the fastest, higher tech boat sailed by superb sailors came out on top. Luck of the draw as well as Oracle is a bit of a condition boat so it could have just as easily gone the other way.
I hope they DO NOT sail again in these boats. While awesome to watch, they are just too expensive and temperamental. If you enjoy the idea of sailboat racing, check out videos of some of the match racing as that will give you an idea of what it is really like and is certainly more interesting all the time than the AC was. A simple, one design type format for the AC would net many, many more teams for both the challengers (them) and the defenders (us) and that would be a spectacle worth spending money to go see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0uRrasHOw
The whole cheating angle is overblown... and Oracle WAS penalized 2 races. The Kiwi's had an unprecedented lead... and lost it. Unless there was cheating during those races... it is irrelevant.
As for the boats... When one enters the world of racing and speed... innovation is the name of the game. While these boats may be "expensive and temperamental"... that is the nature of racing. Indy cars... formula1, NASCAR, horses, power boats, aircraft are ALL "expensive and temperamental". Pushing and extending the envelope is what racing is all about. New technology is ALWAYS more expensive initially... but boy is it exciting.
The traditional style boats will keep the traditional fans... but these new boats are the future... IMHO...
Yes, other forms of extreme racing are expensive and the cars, boats, planes are temperamental. The difference, as I see it, is this. 22 Formula One cars on the grid from 11 teams. 13 F! Hydro teams. Something like 50 cars from 30 odd owners for Nascar. For the Americas Cup, 1 defender team and 3 challenger teams. Also compare this to the AC45's. There were ten youth teams and 8 regular teams. Frankly, I found the AC45's more fun to watch.
As someone who has raced sailboats, who has experienced the fun and the spills and the pain, I found the entire AC a bit wasteful. Perhaps I am showing my age but it seemed more of an accomplishment when the team members were all from the country of origin, when the boats were far better matched and when there were several defenders and many challengers. I think that regardless of the boat type, catamaran or other, if it is more affordable, there will be more entrants and that would make for a better show for everyone.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 25, 2013, 09:25:53 PM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 25, 2013, 06:37:15 PM
(http://blog.sfgate.com/americascup/files/2013/05/all-signals-go-for-oracle-team-usa-17.jpg)
Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!
WTF are you talking about?
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 10:55:45 AM
Whatever... did ya watch the damn video? I did one better bridgetroll I watched it live on TV! So I didn't have to watch your DAMN VIDEO! And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 10, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
]Larry Ellison/Oracle has been the worst thing that has happen to the America's Cup in years! So if you Cheat and get caught like Team Oracle has done. Why in the World would I put my support behind them just because they are the American's Team? I love America but this isn't what America should be teaching anyone "If you can't Win Cheat?" BS!
(WTF are you talking about?) WTF do you care? Larry Ellison still got caught CHEATING! "And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!" Yes I still wished that Team New Zealand would have won they sure had a lot of chances and blew them? So wants wrong with me saying "Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!" It's the right thing to do!
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 26, 2013, 07:06:22 AM
Quote from: strider on September 25, 2013, 07:31:10 PM
This would indeed be a great come back story if Oracle had not been penalized for cheating and if so much of the entire AC had not been fought in the courts. In many ways, NZ deserved this win a bit more than the US did. But in the end, the fastest, higher tech boat sailed by superb sailors came out on top. Luck of the draw as well as Oracle is a bit of a condition boat so it could have just as easily gone the other way.
I hope they DO NOT sail again in these boats. While awesome to watch, they are just too expensive and temperamental. If you enjoy the idea of sailboat racing, check out videos of some of the match racing as that will give you an idea of what it is really like and is certainly more interesting all the time than the AC was. A simple, one design type format for the AC would net many, many more teams for both the challengers (them) and the defenders (us) and that would be a spectacle worth spending money to go see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0uRrasHOw
The whole cheating angle is overblown... and Oracle WAS penalized 2 races. The Kiwi's had an unprecedented lead... and lost it. Unless there was cheating during those races... it is irrelevant.
As for the boats... When one enters the world of racing and speed... innovation is the name of the game. While these boats may be "expensive and temperamental"... that is the nature of racing. Indy cars... formula1, NASCAR, horses, power boats, aircraft are ALL "expensive and temperamental". Pushing and extending the envelope is what racing is all about. New technology is ALWAYS more expensive initially... but boy is it exciting.
The traditional style boats will keep the traditional fans... but these new boats are the future... IMHO...
(The whole cheating angle is overblown.) ;D :D ;D :D boy I really love your ethics!
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 26, 2013, 10:03:26 AM
(WTF are you talking about?) WTF do you care? Larry Ellison still got caught CHEATING! "And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!" Yes I still wished that Team New Zealand would have won they sure had a lot of chances and blew them? So wants wrong with me saying "Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!" It's the right thing to do!
Nah. If you believe they cheated to get there, then there's no way in hell you should offer congratulations. Barry Bonds to the HOF - Nope. Alex Rodriguez - Nope. Lance Armstrong - Stripped of all of his titles.
You don't congratulate them, you ignore them and their 'achievements' - if you think they ended up there through nefarious means.
I guess that's a difference that I'm completely willing to accept - I stand by my convictions - right, wrong or indifferent. You? You get all up in arms about past transgressions and then the line starts behind you to kowtow when you opponent wins.
IILY - Try standing up for yourself. If more people did, then the world would be a better place. ;-)
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 26, 2013, 10:22:18 AM
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 26, 2013, 10:03:26 AM
(WTF are you talking about?) WTF do you care? Larry Ellison still got caught CHEATING! "And I hope Team New Zealand Wins the America's Cup in 2013!" Yes I still wished that Team New Zealand would have won they sure had a lot of chances and blew them? So wants wrong with me saying "Oracle Team USA Won and Congratulations to the Team!" It's the right thing to do!
Nah. If you believe they cheated to get there, then there's no way in hell you should offer congratulations. Barry Bonds to the HOF - Nope. Alex Rodriguez - Nope. Lance Armstrong - Stripped of all of his titles.
You don't congratulate them, you ignore them and their 'achievements' - if you think they ended up there through nefarious means.
I guess that's a difference that I'm completely willing to accept - I stand by my convictions - right, wrong or indifferent. You? You get all up in arms about past transgressions and then the line starts behind you to kowtow when you opponent wins.
IILY - Try standing up for yourself. If more people did, then the world would be a better place. ;-)
NRNW ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D ;D :D ;D :D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :D ;D
AWESOME PHOTOS!
One bad turn in a short course race is all you need to lose and that certainly happened to NZ yesterday. Part of AC is that the previous winner gets to set up a race that plays to their best advantage.
AC has been boat innovation arms-race since 1983, which is fine. It's a race to build the lithest, fastest, lightest, thinest-hulled, most dangerous hydro-foiling machines. The fast short course races with two legs on a reach or beat makes for interesting TV (especially for casual watchers who do not sail.) It's now speed boat racing with mylar sails. 40+kts is amazing --patently ridiculous-- speed out of a sailboat.
If you're into speed/velocity made good issues and sailing physics, AC type races are fun. Those boats allow for such close hauled points of sail that they've all but eliminated the tacking dual to upwind marks and reduced downwind speed loss by magnitudes.
There are still plenty of long course, traditional, tacking duel sailing races run by single-hulled vessels out there to enjoy -- they just don't have the hyped-up TV coverage.
Quote from: strider on September 26, 2013, 08:12:26 AM
Yes, other forms of extreme racing are expensive and the cars, boats, planes are temperamental. The difference, as I see it, is this. 22 Formula One cars on the grid from 11 teams. 13 F! Hydro teams. Something like 50 cars from 30 odd owners for Nascar. For the Americas Cup, 1 defender team and 3 challenger teams. Also compare this to the AC45's. There were ten youth teams and 8 regular teams. Frankly, I found the AC45's more fun to watch.
As someone who has raced sailboats, who has experienced the fun and the spills and the pain, I found the entire AC a bit wasteful. Perhaps I am showing my age but it seemed more of an accomplishment when the team members were all from the country of origin, when the boats were far better matched and when there were several defenders and many challengers. I think that regardless of the boat type, catamaran or other, if it is more affordable, there will be more entrants and that would make for a better show for everyone.
As I mentioned earlier, the only major difference between the AC45s (which I've seen in SF Bay racing in person) and the AC72s (the AC boats) is size. 10 teams chose to participate in AC World Series with the 45s and only 3 chose to compete at the 72 level for the Cup. Ok, so lesson learned we all move on, but I can promise you that in person the AC races and the matches and practice that led up to yesterday's moment (for the past 4+ months) was spectacular to watch in person. I also used to sail (competitively for a while, and leisurely on my J15 growing up at home), and I can appreciate the engineering aspect of AC (perhaps it's the civil engineer in me...which was my major for part of undergrad before transferring).
The title went back to the defender, which is the GG Yacht Club, and I can all but guarantee you Larry Ellison and Team Oracle will be the representative defending team once again. They chose the 45 and 72 design and have so much money invested in each (as do lots of teams now). Be prepared for the same setup, but perhaps smaller boats (all 45s) in the future. Larry was roasted by his fellow San Franciscans for making the most expensive race ever and city officials were roasted for giving in and spending a good bit of money on what has been a questionable turnout/"ROI", but at the end of the day, as someone who lives 2 blocks from the waterfront...I've definitely noticed tens of thousands of foreign and US spectators coming just for the sailing over the past couple months. It's been pretty exciting for those of us with easy access to the piers, to rooftops (my building has 23rd floor rooftop parties for each event), to the Marina Green, so I can understand the complaints from those who are just not able to be present as much, but poo paa come out for the next race.
Also, there's been no better TV coverage for sailing than this race...these boats are designed for TV (though having watched a regatta from a distance practically every weekend somewhere on the bay, I have to say AC is by far the only exciting one to watch as a spectator due to the sheer size of the boats and their speed and agility).
Maybe Jacksonville can learn to be a good waterfront city? Wide river and ocean setting with a nice backdrop and yet there are never any boats on the water any more. Growing up, I used to take the boat out a lot, and I feel like more people did, and now it's just a few Mastercraft type wakeboard boats tucked away in calmer waters...not much happening downtown and no masses of sailboats or powerboats in the main part of the SJR south of DT.
Quote from: simms3 on September 26, 2013, 11:56:13 AM
Quote from: strider on September 26, 2013, 08:12:26 AM
Yes, other forms of extreme racing are expensive and the cars, boats, planes are temperamental. The difference, as I see it, is this. 22 Formula One cars on the grid from 11 teams. 13 F! Hydro teams. Something like 50 cars from 30 odd owners for Nascar. For the Americas Cup, 1 defender team and 3 challenger teams. Also compare this to the AC45's. There were ten youth teams and 8 regular teams. Frankly, I found the AC45's more fun to watch.
As someone who has raced sailboats, who has experienced the fun and the spills and the pain, I found the entire AC a bit wasteful. Perhaps I am showing my age but it seemed more of an accomplishment when the team members were all from the country of origin, when the boats were far better matched and when there were several defenders and many challengers. I think that regardless of the boat type, catamaran or other, if it is more affordable, there will be more entrants and that would make for a better show for everyone.
As I mentioned earlier, the only major difference between the AC45s (which I've seen in SF Bay racing in person) and the AC72s (the AC boats) is size. 10 teams chose to participate in AC World Series with the 45s and only 3 chose to compete at the 72 level for the Cup. Ok, so lesson learned we all move on, but I can promise you that in person the AC races and the matches and practice that led up to yesterday's moment (for the past 4+ months) was spectacular to watch in person. I also used to sail (competitively for a while, and leisurely on my J15 growing up at home), and I can appreciate the engineering aspect of AC (perhaps it's the civil engineer in me...which was my major for part of undergrad before transferring).
The title went back to the defender, which is the GG Yacht Club, and I can all but guarantee you Larry Ellison and Team Oracle will be the representative defending team once again. They chose the 45 and 72 design and have so much money invested in each (as do lots of teams now). Be prepared for the same setup, but perhaps smaller boats (all 45s) in the future. Larry was roasted by his fellow San Franciscans for making the most expensive race ever and city officials were roasted for giving in and spending a good bit of money on what has been a questionable turnout/"ROI", but at the end of the day, as someone who lives 2 blocks from the waterfront...I've definitely noticed tens of thousands of foreign and US spectators coming just for the sailing over the past couple months. It's been pretty exciting for those of us with easy access to the piers, to rooftops (my building has 23rd floor rooftop parties for each event), to the Marina Green, so I can understand the complaints from those who are just not able to be present as much, but poo paa come out for the next race.
Also, there's been no better TV coverage for sailing than this race...these boats are designed for TV (though having watched a regatta from a distance practically every weekend somewhere on the bay, I have to say AC is by far the only exciting one to watch as a spectator due to the sheer size of the boats and their speed and agility).
Maybe Jacksonville can learn to be a good waterfront city? Wide river and ocean setting with a nice backdrop and yet there are never any boats on the water any more. Growing up, I used to take the boat out a lot, and I feel like more people did, and now it's just a few Mastercraft type wakeboard boats tucked away in calmer waters...not much happening downtown and no masses of sailboats or powerboats in the main part of the SJR south of DT.
I appreciated your reports and pix from San Francisco!
Didn't Charlie Morgan design and build a challenger and bring it up the Intracoastal en route to Newport one year?
Caught the last four minutes on NBCSports.
PS: Great pics, made me think of Vertigo.
Simms you need to get out more. There are two clubs that run races on the ST Johns river, mostly club races on the weekends. They just don't make a big TV deal or advertise.It is also a BIG river and if you don't look for 'em you'll miss 'em.
Quote from: Overstreet on September 26, 2013, 02:19:11 PM
Simms you need to get out more. There are two clubs that run races on the ST Johns river, mostly club races on the weekends. They just don't make a big TV deal or advertise.It is also a BIG river and if you don't look for 'em you'll miss 'em.
No YOU need to get out more (I tease). I grew up on the river and used to sail for FYC against Epping and other clubs (Rudder Club, etc...my uncle was also a very well known sailor in Jax before he moved away), so I'm pretty familiar with what there is, though admittedly I no longer sail and I am removed from the scene in Jax - I just see what I see at other waterfront cities such as the one I live in. A lot of people in Jax, even "provided for" riverfront residents, sold their boats. There are generally more vacant slips at marinas all around Jax than there were 10 years ago and there was a noticeable decline in boating activity after the recession that doesn't seem to have rebounded...and for a while when there were algae problems and the foam I barely saw a single boat out there (I think for good reason).
I would think that aside from traditional regattas between just a few clubs/high school sports clubs every now and again (and BTW a lot of Jax organizations trekked up to Charleston or other nearby cities for regattas where there was more competition and more activity and a better, more put together scene), I think with tidying up the river and public waterfront, the right promotion and buy in from organizations like FYC and Epping, that maybe Jax could host a more public/larger sailing or boating event that gets some sort of TV coverage and sponsors.
Similarly and not all too unrelated, the city doesn't make good use of its waterfront for the public's enjoyment. The Riverwalk is basically the best we have; the rest being unused or private all up and down the river. The most active maritime scene I see when I come back for visits is in St. Augustine area where there always seem to be lots of boats out on the water and people enjoying the public waterfront.
Jax could use:
More public waterfront
Well put together public waterfront (i.e. better than what we have now)
A larger, more prominent maritime museum
Old ships docked downtown (Charles Adams as one example) to be used for events and museum
Better slips (public mainly...)
Wider channels in the main part of the river for larger boats
More promotion from both public and private parties
Better bridges the next time one is built or upgraded
We lost our wharves and piers, merchant marines, shipbuilding industry, warehouse districts, and basically all prior maritime activity that defined the city for generations before, but it's not too late to try to recapture some of that flavor for modern, public 21st century life. What we have now is pretty dismal relative to what it could/should be. I know we're all on the same page here and I'm just words and others are trying to get something going - so keep pushing for that stuff because that's a BIG quality of life point that most cities can't replicate and Jax doesn't take advantage of.
QuoteThere are generally more vacant slips at marinas all around Jax than there were 10 years ago and there was a noticeable decline in boating activity after the recession that doesn't seem to have rebounded
I've noticed that since moving here. I just thought that maybe people preferred to keep their boat at home and tow to wherever they wanted to boat rather than have it in just one body of water.