Had to just bring a few more pics of this Multihill Mania that is developing in the world of the America’s Cup. From the BMW Oracle sea trials …
Get a feel for the size of these boats here
And how fast is this!!!
Speed!
From the Swiss camp as they prepare to try their creation out today, a few more pics …
The mast - get an idea of the scale by looking at the person on the right
And the boat (which has just successfully launched) …
The Boat
It is hotting up in the “spend and ignore the recession” America’s Cup multihull build race. BMW Oracle have launched a new version of their 90 foot trimaran, and so far have not lodged the customs house papers so they can still change it further.
BMW Oracle Trimaran V2 sea trials off San Diego (Photo Gilles Martin-Raget)
Its hard to get an idea of just how big this beast is from that photo. The little glitches at the end of the boom are people! Take a look at the following pic for a better idea as to the scale …
How big is bog? BMW Oracle closer up during sea trials off San Diego (Photo Gilles Martin-Raget)
While all that goes on the Swiss are progressin as well, emplying the services of the biggest and most powerful helicopter in the world – the Mil Mi-26 – to carry the hull in to Lake Geneva.
Alinghi carried into Lake Geneva by Helicopter (Photo by Bruno Cocozza/Alinghi)
The Swiss are opting for a Cat instead of a Tri which would be faster particularly in light air, but poses significant build and design challenges (there is an issue with a huge mast pushing down on an area where there is no boat – in the middle).
There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding a huge V8 mounted on the back beam. I presume it is related to hydraulics – there are numerous tubes leading away from it. Not sure how all that works under the rules!
The mystery V8 on the rear of the Alinghi cat (Photo by Philippe Chapin)
A final pic of the boat just before lift off showing the sheer scale of it…
Alinghi on the tarmac before liftoff (Photo by Philippe Chapin)
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