SteveW86
Head Pro
3 COVID cases in NZ, lockdown now putting a delay into the schedule.
America's Cup
- Thread starter 2blue
- Start date
2blue
Journeyman Pro
3 cases!!!...... cause delay?
Mind you I remember in 1980, when teaching in S Christchurch I was delayed for School due to an Elephant seal blocking the road..... hahah... the staff just said, "How big?" ....... & it was ruddy huge.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
Auckland is in lockdown for 3 days
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
In your opinion, are there any signs that Ineos have much chance of coming back at them? Ok, I know there were x2 starting cock-ups for Ineos, but it seems that they've been outsailed in all 4 races so far. Which seems a surprise given Ineos' performance in the round robins.
SteveW86
Head Pro
Whilst Ineos performed very well in the round robins, dont forget that their performance there was actually a very big surprise given how all of the racing pre Christmas had gone. In all of the racing so far, they have still only won 4 races.
4-0 down is certainly not where they would want to be, but in my opinion yes they still have a chance of coming back. Teams have come back from worse positions. Whether they are able to is another story though.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Think I'll just have to take hope from USA's comeback performance in whatever year it was ...
Old Skier
Tour Winner
When the got Ben Anslee to come on board to sort their tactics out.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Is this not done yet?
SteveW86
Head Pro
The Americans were able to come back from an 8-1 deficit due to boat speed. They were able to get their boat foiling upwind and we’re able to just sail around the Kiwi’s.
pokerjoke
Money List Winner
A commentator asked his co -commentator what Inneos need to do to turn it around and he says “ they need to shake it off”.
Yes that’s a great insight.
Yes that’s a great insight.
Captainron
Big Hitting, South African Sweary Person
Bet Ben Ainsley will be inspired by those words. But he will be hoping that the wind picks up properly to give them a chance
Captainron
Big Hitting, South African Sweary Person
Game over for Ineos.
7-1 loss to the Italians
7-1 loss to the Italians
2blue
Journeyman Pro
Yeah... very convincing, I must say. Like their cars, (Alpha's, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Lancia, Fiat Abarth etc) Italian design is impeccable but in the case of this boat, rather more reliable as well!!
So far!!Yes, it's an absolute belter looks-wise & here's hoping it continues to perform against NZ.
It never ceases to amaze me how such a small Nation like NZ that actually makes nothing of any real significance, industry-wise, can be so innovative in boat design & development. Mind you, unless things have changed significantly since I lived there in 1980, the number of them who are building or have built their own boat of one size or another is incredible. I must have been there for only a couple of weeks before I was helping a guy with a 40ft home build of a wooden boat in a 'section' near the School I worked at. There were several others at the same place, either abandoned or 'resting' 'till enthusiasm returned,
I think the resourcefulness of the old 'pioneer' spirit lives on as well as their willingness to share knowledge.
An incredible people who I think I'll be rooting for in the Final.
I enjoyed the fact that GB had a boat contesting it, though, even as an island Nation, we take little interest. In contrast NZ's first involvement was building back in the 80's & was supported by 'public subscription' from ordinary people putting their hands in their pockets. I guess they didn't think they were going to get ripped-off.
So for me, it's GO.. NZ... GO!! ......... though sounds a bit anti-EU does that.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Disappointing that we got away first in both races today and still lost both. Even more disappointing that we lost by a 7:1 margin. But cant get away from fact we were out-sailed throughout. Looking forward to the main Cup now. I shall be rooting for the Italians - nothing against the Kiwis, but when there's no personal nationalistic interest, I tend to root for the challenger rather than the holder
SteveW86
Head Pro
from a sailors point of view it has been an interesting watch, it has been a bit of a spectacle.
The Americas Cup is an interesting concept, 1 team (challenger of record) challenges the defender and those two teams go on to write the rules and the design parameters of the boats before releasing to other teams who want to get involved so they usually have a good advantage in terms of the design. Think of it like the reigning F1 winning team gets to write the rules for next year for the design of the car and they get a 6 months to work on it before releasing the rules to all the other teams.
I think what we saw just before and after Christmas was proof of how little racing had been done due to COVID, we were seeing lots of mistakes being made when the teams were under pressure which made for some exciting racing and lots of place changing. Gradually though the teams were sailing the boats better and making less mistakes. Whilst I think the Italian boat was just that bit better, I think the extra races helped them. The plain boat speed between the two was very close, but the Italians had a better mode in both upwind and downwind, giving them an extra knot or two on VMG. They were able to just gradually increase a lead and almost sail around Ineos when they needed to in the final race today.
Looking ahead is interesting, the Kiwis have been training hard and will no doubt we quicker than they were before Christmas, but will they make mistakes in the races when put under pressure. How much better are the Italians now than they were 2 months ago, a bit hard to tell as we have seen them racing against an improving Ineos team. The Kiwis have a much smaller set of foils, so it could depend a lot on the conditions we have. The smaller foils should be faster in heavier airs due to less drag, but we have seen much lighter conditions recently.
Either way, a lot will be revealed in the first race and a lot more questions asked too.
The Americas Cup is an interesting concept, 1 team (challenger of record) challenges the defender and those two teams go on to write the rules and the design parameters of the boats before releasing to other teams who want to get involved so they usually have a good advantage in terms of the design. Think of it like the reigning F1 winning team gets to write the rules for next year for the design of the car and they get a 6 months to work on it before releasing the rules to all the other teams.
I think what we saw just before and after Christmas was proof of how little racing had been done due to COVID, we were seeing lots of mistakes being made when the teams were under pressure which made for some exciting racing and lots of place changing. Gradually though the teams were sailing the boats better and making less mistakes. Whilst I think the Italian boat was just that bit better, I think the extra races helped them. The plain boat speed between the two was very close, but the Italians had a better mode in both upwind and downwind, giving them an extra knot or two on VMG. They were able to just gradually increase a lead and almost sail around Ineos when they needed to in the final race today.
Looking ahead is interesting, the Kiwis have been training hard and will no doubt we quicker than they were before Christmas, but will they make mistakes in the races when put under pressure. How much better are the Italians now than they were 2 months ago, a bit hard to tell as we have seen them racing against an improving Ineos team. The Kiwis have a much smaller set of foils, so it could depend a lot on the conditions we have. The smaller foils should be faster in heavier airs due to less drag, but we have seen much lighter conditions recently.
Either way, a lot will be revealed in the first race and a lot more questions asked too.
pokerjoke
Money List Winner
Looks like it’s going to be a lot closer this time around.
I’m going for the Italians to win overall
I’m going for the Italians to win overall
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Race 2 was darn good, going down to the wire as it did.
2blue
Journeyman Pro
It continues to be a great spectacle.
Both boats appear to be very well matched & are being sailed equally well. Gonna be about who makes the least errors.
.....
Both boats appear to be very well matched & are being sailed equally well. Gonna be about who makes the least errors.
.....
pokerjoke
Money List Winner
Now that’s something you don’t see very often.
A 4 minute lead evaporating
A 4 minute lead evaporating
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Interesting day today!
Need Steve's expert comments. Was today (ie race 8) a result of one mistake by NZ and then severe bad luck on the Italians. Or was the Italians a mistake as well?