Sailing the New BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull
Anacortes, USA - BMW Oracle Racing’s new 90 foot multihull sailboat hoisted sail for the first time this week in Anacortes, Washington. “This boat is incredibly challenging,” said skipper Russell Coutts. Coutts and the BMW Oracle crew have been working with the crew from Groupama's famous multihulls, including YachtPals own Franck Cammas. The mega-team is combining its talents to test the newest America's Cup hopeful out on the waters of Rosario Strait, amongst the San Juan Islands of Washington state.
On Monday the new trimaran began her sailing trials, hoisting the double reefed 5,000 square foot (500 meters square) mainsail up the 158 foot (48 meter) carbon fiber mast. The crew then tacked and gybed for four hours in 6-8 knots of wind on Rosario Strait, just to get a feel for the action of the new boat, prudently starting with a reduced sail plan with the idea of gently building up to the amazing stresses this giant will need to endure. Massive, as the boat itself is the size of two basketball courts.
On Tuesday the light September breezes, calm waters and sunshine continued to provide ideal testing conditions as the crew stepped it up a notch, sailing without any reefs, and with a Solent headsail. Progressively the loads on this brand new America's Cup boat are being increased. “Each day we will push things a little bit harder and harder,” said tactician John Kostecki. “This boat is testing the limits. We are like test pilots and we’re taking it gently and carefully so we don’t have any majors. We’re quite happy with the initial performance of the boat.”
“The learning curve is steep – just massive. A boat of this size and power is a new ball game for most of us.” said James Spithill before Day 3 of sea trials on Wednesday, when they began testing the new trimaran with a larger headsail. Spithill added: “We are looking at a gennaker today; that will be quite exciting!” Today, the boat is scheduled for a thorough going over as the ground crew checks for problems resulting from the tests, and performs maintenance.
- by B/K Hampton exclusively for YachtPals.com
Sailing the New BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull
READ MORE ABOUT THE BMW ORACLE AMERICA'S CUP MULTIHULL
Read related sailing articles:
- New Racing Trimarans - The Big and the Beautiful (more about the BMW Oracle multihull)
- America's Cup
- BMW Racing sailboats
- Oracle sailboats
- Groupama multihulls
- Franck Cammas
- The World's Fastest Sailboats - Sailing for Speed Freaks!
- Trimarans
- Sailing Video: Maiden Voyage of the BMW Oracle America's Cup Trimaran.
- Sailing Video: Franck Cammas and others speak about the new BMW Oracle multihull (in French). A Anacortes sur la côte Ouest des Etats Unis, le skipper des trimarans Groupama et son équipe ne tarissent pas d'éloges sur le trimaran de 90 pieds BMW Oracle. F. Cammas, B. Laurent, et R. Coutts nous livrent leurs premières
- Sailing Video: BMW Oracle America's Cup Trimaran sailing trials near Anacortes, Washington USA.
Submitted By YachtPals on 04 Sep
US, America's Cup, Washington, san juan islands, BMW Oracle, BMW, Oracle, Groupama, America, anacortes, rosario straight, trimaran, multihull, sailboat, yacht, sailing, yachting
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BMW Oracle Multihull Moving to San Diego
BMW Oracle Racing will be shipping its 90 foot America's Cup multihull yacht from Anacortes, Washington, to San Diego, California later this month.
“With light breeze and flat water, Anacortes has been the ideal place to sea trial our new boat,“ said team helmsman James Spithill. “We will move the team to San Diego for two months to extend the sailing season in the warmer climate of Southern California.”
The BMW Oracle racing boat is expected to arrive by barge in San Diego by the end of this month.
MULTIHULLS - It's about time
It's about time the US started moving fwd with the future of sailing and not getting left behind.....MULTIHULLS.
BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull - work and money
I was Jonathan Mckees sailing friend for about 8 years until he went global again.
Carl Buchan sugested that I should get to anacortes for work. I am experienced in sailing both dignys and up to 118' S&S racing and crusing. Prefer boat captains job and have had more than a few Ausies and Kiwis paid along the way.
Boat building could be of some interest also.
More than a few contacts more often than not positive ones
Please contact me at bryanelwell"at"otmail"dot"com as I would prefer to be working
BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull - court tomorrow
life any ausies or kiwis care to represent me in court tomorrow
Seattle Municipal court 902 130pm downtown seattle
Russel remember my college crew linda
James how did you like JM after we went seperate ways
Dan Kerr Kiwi Marine Services Newport RI
Jim Dollands crew etc
Tess the chef met here twice
passed mensae to another cat
I know a couple of other names
Dave good guy I liked him similar to me with out digny stuff on Knickerbocker Dollan was mate/engineer
Scott Elis laser worlds last seen in Vancouver with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and not sure why
BMW Oracle America's Cup Trimaran Testing Concludes in WA
After two weeks of sea trials on the waters outside Anacortes Washington, the BMW ORACLE Racing team is now is preparing to move their 90 foot multihull down to San Diego, California for another testing session.
The BMW Oracle shore team is now preparing the yacht for loading and shipping to San Diego, where the crew will enjoy the warmer winter climate of Southern California.
(view large photo)
BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull Videos
New video added to page. Franck Cammas and others speak about the new BMW Oracle multihull sailboat (in French)
Video includes new footage of the BMW Oracle trimaran sailing off Anacortes.
BMW Oracle Multihull Arrives in San Diego.
BMW Oracle Racing’s new trimaran arrived in San Diego a few days ago after traveling 1,200 miles by barge from Anacortes, Washington.
The BMW Oracle trimaran will now conduct additional testing of the trimaran over the next two months in San Diego.
The crew is planning to test the new 90-foot trimaran in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego starting in October. The warm Southern California weather will allow the BMW Oracle team to test the multihull through the end of November.
Photo: Bob Grieser/BMW ORACLE Racing
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