Arthur’s column

Looks pretty sure now that the race will finally take place in the sea off Valencia.  Can’t wait!

Or maybe not …..  we all wait as nothing happens. Boredom in the extreme!

6 minutes until he commits to the start

YES

Race 1 of the 33rd America’s Cup Match has been postponed until Friday. Today’s attempt to commence the best-of-three Deed of Gift Match between Defender Alinghi and Challenger BMW Oracle Racing was postponed due to rough sea conditions on the Mediterranean outside Valencia.

“The waves were the biggest problem. I think they were about 1.3m average size in the start area,” said Alinghi strategist Murray Jones. “That means we could’ve had a peak of 1.8m and that’s the biggest issue.

“There was a swell coming from one direction and waves from an offset of 90 degrees to that. We’ve been out in conditions not quite that bad, but it’s heinous. I think they’ve done the right thing by not sending us out there,” Jones said.

Jones explained that strong winds in the north of Spain near France were churning up the sea, which was confirmed over the phone by Will McCarthy, an Alinghi sailing team member, out spotting at noon: “It’s very bumpy out here, confused, cold and we have seen 20knots this morning.”

The next attempt to commence the match is scheduled for Friday at 10:06. The race schedule is for one day to intervene between each race day as agreed with the Challenger. Paragraph 6.5 of the Notice of Race states that: “If a race is cancelled, abandoned or postponed that race will be sailed on the next scheduled date and the subsequent races shall be postponed for the day accordingly.”

The first attempt on Monday was postponed until today due to unstable wind conditions.

Later.  There was wind overnight and they annouhnced a start no earlier than 11:45, giving the riggers a bit of a longer sleep (it takes 3 hours to rig USA).  It seems the wind has now died, but it will probably be bumpy out there.

Despite conventional wisdom that the swiss are only good on a millpond and USA can take the rough stuff, I wouldn’t be so sure.  USA’s wing will have huge foreces on it if there is a big sea running.  Remember the Coutts 30%?  He should know …

Pity – a light air race should have favoured Alinghi.  We shall wait and see.

So – the 33rd Americas Cup remains unsailed and we all remain none the wiser as to which is the fastest boat!  Keep tuned for more over the coming days.

NOT!

BMW Oracle Wing Mast (top bit anyway)

Yes – that was the view for us mere mortals who took the time to travel to Valencia of BMW Oracle.  And – because we are feeling more kind to the Swiss in recognition of their efforts – here is a nice shot of the boat just after lowering the main yesterday.

Alinghi - our favourite catamaran

Racing is still postponed at this stage.

The course has been moved to a windier area – Eurosport seem to have decided that ski jumping is more fun than watching really expensive yachts bobbing around.  I hope they switch back when racing starts!

The one thing that is hard to convey in a picture is the sheer size of these boats.  Take a look at Alingi – I took these yesterday when they put their mast up.  The blob at the top is a grown man taking the crane rope off!

Alinghi steps her mast in Valencia

Yes - its human

Take a look at this close-up.  It’s mind boggling how wide that mast is.  It has a sail area on its own in excess of most boats!

Alinghi Mast

According to Eurosport Russell Coutts (CEO – BMW Oracle Racing) rates the chances of failure as high as 30%!  This is in line with some of my comments over the past few months – it may well end up being the boat that manages to finish that wins.

Still waiting for wind in Valencia.  BMW weighing in 4 tons heavier than Alinghi, 5m higher rig and of course that huge wing rather than a more conventional soft cloth sail.

Beauty and the Beast. Let the games begin…

No wind at the start and not much more at the other end of the 20m single leg. Race postpomed.  This is good for Alinghi if  it stays light – conventional wisdom has it that light air favours the Swiss.

A fair amount of bobbing around going on at the moment.  Eurosport commentators fishing for something to say.

Just got back from Valencia where I tried to see the boats – decided the action is better followed at home on the telly!

Wonderful huge machines, but unfortunately along with their tremendous speeds comes a race that takes place out of sight of all who dont have a RIB!  I did get to see Alingi go out yesterday and saw her sailing at a distance. Also saw USA (at a distance).

Hats off to Alinghi in the pre-race area.  They took the effort to put an exhibition in place (and of course showed off their cup).  They also moored “Beauty” in the Darsena harbour where the public could get within 50m of it.  The Americans not only moored in the commercial harbour where access was impossible except by boat, they also didnt bother with any sort of facility beyond the inevitable shop.  So most people’s view of BMW Oracle is a shop surrounded by all the BMW courtesy cars and thats that. Oh – and the tip of that 75m wing showing over the cranes.

Will post pictures in a short while – for now the race is about to begin so its off to the telly!