Oggi alle 14:30 circa ha preso il via la prima gara dell'edizione 2010 della Coppa America.
Un'edizione caratterizzata da un preambolo davvero aspro di lotte legali durissime, persino peggiori di quelle che scossero l'edizione del 1988.
Le barche di questa edizione sono assai diverse da quelle cui ci avevano abituati le edizioni precedenti (il tipo di imbarcazione e' concordato da sfidante e sfidato, e i multiscafi sono ammessi, come chiarito appunto nell'88 ).
Una soluzione a catamarano per i difensori svizzeri di Alinghi, e un trimarano per lo sfidante BMW Oracle, ribattezzato USA.
Ma l'eccezionalita' della soluzione americana va ben oltre lo scafo, dato che utilizza una vela rigida a corda cortissima nota come "ala".
Sin dai preamboli, quando ancora si temeva un ulteriore rinvio, Alinghi ha dato prova dell'incredibile efficienza di queste imbarcazioni, navigando senza sforzo apparente a 14-15 nodi con un vento di appena 6 nodi, mentre USA ha dimostrato di poter viaggiare a circa 2,7 volte la velocita' del vento effettivo durante il corso dell'evento (rispetto al coefficiente di appena 1.4-1.6 della maggioranza delle imbarcazioni), grazie alla sua capacita' di stringere il vento apparente davvero bene e alla soluzione multiscafo che offre una resistenza davvero ridotta, specie quando poi fatto navigare con lo scafo sopravvento "volante", come accade in questo genere di competizioni.
L'avvio e' stato ricco di colpi di scena e suspance, a partire dalla probabilita' di un nuovo rinvio, poi scongiurato. La gara e' apparsa inizialmente propizia per USA, che e' riuscito a imporre la penalita' tanto temuta su Alinghi.
Alle 14:33, pero', USA ha patito una partenza davvero nefasta, venendosi a trovare oltre la linea di partenza al momento del via, mentre Alinghi stava sopraggiungendo gia' ben lanciata . USA e' stata costretta dunque a ritornare prima della linea e ripartire, mentre alle 14:38 Alinghi guadagnava gia' oltre 650 metri di vantaggio, schizzando via sopra i 23 nodi.
Ma a questo punto USA ha dimostrato la schiacciante superiorita' delle soluzioni adottate dal team americano, sia per lo scafo trimarano, sia per l'ala.
USA ha riguadagnato in meno di 15 minuti la distanza persa, e ha superato alinghi con le barche che viaggiavano a 17-19 nodi in un vento di 6-7 nodi.
La barca americana ha mostrato per tutta la durata della regata una capacita' superiore di stringere il vento rispetto all'avversaria svizzera, e una velocita' maggiore col vento al traverso, risultando in sostanza piu' rapida in ogni condizione.
USA ha tagliato il traguardo con 15 minuti di vantaggio, in una gara altamente spettacolare, grazie anche alla tipologia di imbarcazioni coinvolte.
Qui potete trovare immagini davvero spettacolari della regata.
http://www.americascup.com/en/multimedia/gallery/index.php
Di seguito il "live ticker" dell'evento, preso direttamente dal sito dell'America's Cup. Va letto dal fondo a salire.
17:22
Alinghi appear not to have completed their penalty properly and so the final delta is 15 minutes and 28 seconds.
17:08
And USA cross the finish line to provisionally win Race 1 of the 33rd America's Cup. Delight for the American team and certain vindication in these conditions for the concept of the solid wing sail and the trimaran platform.
16:53
Alinghi shedding some water ballast again trying to keep the power on in the lighter conditions. Something like 10 minutes to the finish line.
16:46
Hard to judge what the delta will be, but the biggest recent Cup Match margins were in the 27th America's Cup in 1988, the Deed of Gift 'mis-match', when USA's Stars and Stripes consecutively defeated New Zealand's KZ1 by 18 minutes and 15 seconds and then 21 minutes and 10 seconds.
16:43
Over half way down the downwind leg now.
16:37
USA extending all the time, sailing deeper and faster all the time than Alinghi who are now 3440 metres behind. Certainly the consensus at the moment is that the power and efficiency of the BMW ORACLE Racing Team wing is actually more telling downwind.
16:26
So USA is making 26 knots downwind and seem to consistently be able to fly their windward hulls for longer, peaking now at 28.5 knots of boat speed. Wind speed at the finish is eight knots at 160 degrees. And great work from Harold Bennett and his crew getting this race away, a great spectacle.
16:24
Alinghi gybe first, USA respond almost immediately. USA leading by 2980 metres or so.
16:13
And USA peak speed there is around 25 knots as they spear deeper and faster 'downind' than Alinghi in a puff, and as soon as they get their bow lower and sail faster than Alinghi for any length of time then their gains multiply. Now over 2000 metres of lead to USA. Big changes in course as the apparent wind builds and the leader powers up, Jimmy Spithill USA helmsman bringing the bow down and sailing deep and fast. Alinghi pressing well too.
16:11
So net on that upwind leg BMW Oracle pulled back something around 5 minutes on Alinghi, including that initial deficit.
16:06
Wind looks a little lighter but Alinghi marginal for flying a hull on approach to the turning mark, they go around 3 minutes 21 seconds - we believe - behind USA
16:04
And at an hour and a half after the start USA bear away at the windward mark first, unrolling their huge downwind headsail, breeze is about seven knots.
15:58
Alinghi tacking now on to port for their approach to mark 1, navigator Juan Vila (ESP) calling the time to the top mark to helm Bertarelli, tactician Brad Butterworth, strategist Murray Jones, all, of course, America's Cup winners. Bow and mast crew are preparing the downwind headsail, as they are on USA. Advantage to USA about 1400 metres or so.
15:55
USA now approaching the port tack layline, an hour and 21 minutes after the start, their speed dropping to 6.5 knots as they tack. Speed building on port tack now. Alinghi still to tack. Will they take their penalty before the turn, or hang on?
15:50
Still Ernesto Bertarelli steering Alinghi, just getting a little marginal to keep the weather hull flying on Alinghi. USA have unrolled an upwind headsail to apply a little more power, anticipating the softening of the breeze as they approach the windward mark.
15:46
So downwind there is very little difference between the apparent wind angle generated to that upwind, only five or six degrees. Breeze has dropped a little for both as they approach the port lay line. The wind is between 160 degrees at 10 knots at the windward mark.
15:41
The question is when Alinghi will do their penalty, they must do a gybe if they are going upwind or a tack if they are going downwind. Breeze has picked up to around 10 knots at the windward mark. USA are setting up their giant gennaker for the downwind leg.
15:35
Around six miles to the windward mark, one hour and two minutes into the whole 40 miles race. BMW ORACLE Racing leading by something like 1260 metres.
15:31
So USA lead now by 730 metres and as the breeze decreases we see Alinghi shedding some water ballast. Breeze at the weather mark is around seven knots at 165 degrees.
15:24
Alinghi tack but so far no response from USA. Alinghi's speed only dropped to 10 knots through the tack and they looked pretty slick. USA tacks now.
15:06
So certainly much closer than most expected, really not much between them in terms of boat speed. Speculation had the crossover between the two around 8-9 knots wind speed perhaps and we are pretty close to that. At the top mark we hear the wind is lighter, maybe 5.5 to 6 knots. About half way up the 20 miles beat now. Really very close, despite the huge differences in design philosophy. Perhaps the design teams taking a quiet sigh of relief, but huge credit is due to both design and build teams.... and those who have put in the hundreds of thousands of man hours of labour to get here. Fantastic match so far.....
15:03
Alinghi catching, now 140 metres or so behind when they were 440 metres behind.
14:57
And USA sitting consistently higher and faster, wing only. Dirk De Ridder (NED) trimming the wing, very experienced sailor on his second America's Cup, won the round the world race with USA tactician John Kostecki and trimmer Ross Halcrow.
14:55
USA have now rolled away their jib and are flying wing only, no jib and are expected to point a little higher, now making consistently 19 knots plus and hit 20 knots boat speed.
14:51
So at around 15 minutes after the start USA overhaul Alinghi and make good that initial deficit of around 650 metres when they got across the start line. Both making between 17 and 19 knots in 6-7 knots.
14:49
USA appear to have their weather hull flying higher consistently and are sailing at a very slightly higher angle to the breeze. 180 degrees at the windward mark, eight knots.
14:45
And USA are closing in to Alinghi now there is 235 metres between the two, but of course Alinghi have their penalty to unload. But there is really little difference in speed, USA maybe has the small edge.
14:40
At the Windward Mark we now have 8 knots of wind at 180°, Alinghi have changed now to an upwind jib from their bigger GZero. Alinghi's lead has almost halved since the start, around 450 metres ahead.
14:38
Alinghi lead by about 650 metres, boat speeds are roughly even around 18 knots. USA are now catching a little less than five minutes into Race 1. USA look to be sailing a few degrees higher but they are in slightly different pressure.
14:36
USA have not yet started and it is about 1 minute 45 seconds after the gun that the challenger gets back to the start line.
14:33
USA to the right and both boats are above the start line, Alinghi have the penalty. USA have stalled, flat footed and are stuck, Alinghi win the start and USA are all but stopped on the wrong side of the line.
14:32
Both very slow with two minutes to go, Alinghi pinned to the left of the box a little and USA have the upper hand for sure.
14:30
Alinghi cannot cross and USA take the immediate advantage, USA force penalty on Alinghi for failing to keep clear.
14:29
Getting ready for entry to the start box at 5 mins, timing is crucial. Alinghi at 23 knots USA making 17 knots as the gun.
14:25
The excitement is palpable now, tension unbelievable. We are inside the ten minutes countdown. Breeze still around five to six knots. USA dropping the gennaker to the deck making a change and now have a light genoa and USA eject a back-up crew into the water at around 6min 30 to go.
14:22
USA 17 have rolled their headsail away again and are on station at the committee boat as the AP flag comes down, game on.
14:18
So Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett confirms now that the breeze has settled again and he plans to drop the AP flag at 1424 local time, Attention signal 1425h, start planned 1435hrs. USA roll their headsail out again and away they go.
14:13
Still Alinghi are a sailing around at 15 to 16 knots of boat speed, occasionally flying a hull. They seem to want to go racing for sure, USA still holding fire cruising six or seven knots with their headsail away now. Breeze is 155 deg at the WW1 and start, 160 deg in middle of track and 155 at the start area, 3 knots at the startline area and 5 knots offshore at WW1 mark.
14:01
So we remain on hold, breeze is reported to have dropped to 2-3 knots.
13:57
Conditions could not be better, 2 minutes to the AP down. Ten minutes to the start after that. The final coordinates of the WW1 mark is 39°29´9590N / 00°03´0580 E. AP flag has remained up so the planned start schedule is delayed. Breeze has dropped a little but both boats still making over ten knots.
13:51
USA 17 have a big 'downwind' headsail up, Mast man Matt Mason confirmed yesterday that skipper-helm James Spithill was fired up to go for a penalty on Alinghi 5 if at all possible.
13:37
AP flag will come down at 1359hrs, F flag signal at 1400hrs. Wind WW1 mark is 175° at 6 knots and at the committee boat it is 185° wind speed 7 knots. Looks like we will get Race 1 of the 33rd America's Cup under way. Practice races have previously taken between 2.5 and 3.5 hours on this Deed of Gift race. USA 17 have now unrolled their jib.
13:29
Just ten degrees of difference between the wind direction at the WW1 mark and the start line, 180° 6,5 knots at the cttee boat, and 190° 6 knots at WW 1 windward mark, which is pretty favourable. Seas are flat-ish.
13:27
Breeze is quite puffy where Alinghi 5 are going through their paces, making 17 knots, flying their hull high for a few seconds before settling, pretty spectacular.
13:22
USA just keeping their powder dry meantime, maybe Alinghi pressing the impetus to go racing, showing the conditions look good but race officer Harold Bennett just biding his time, waiting for the conditions to improve a little more. USA sitting almost stationery.
13:19
Alinghi accelerate immediately to 17 to 18 knots in five knots of wind, flying a hull and this is them just warming up. Breeze seems stable in terms of direction all the way down the course, around, most recently 3,5 knots at 165°at the WW1 mark and 190 ° 6 knots at the Committee Boat.
13:14
So still looking pretty good with the wind at 180° blowing 6.5 knots at Committe boat and 195° and 5 knots at the WW1 mark. Breeze is reported to by quite puffy at the moment, with some variation in pressure across the course. But that is pretty inevitable given that the windward leg will of course be 20 miles. Alinghi unrolling a light no 1 jib. BMW Oracle still no jib yet.
13:06
Loick Peyron (FRA) is on the helm of Alinghi 5 at the moment. Might he have the helm at the start? He said the other day that he certainly never expected to be racing the America's Cup in a multihull, but here he is....the only man on board the Swiss defender never to have won the America's Cup. He is due to alternate with Ernesto Bertarelli. Peyron said he was only expecting to share the steering when required, through tacks and so on, but we will see....
13:02
Start line is moving three miles to the east, further off the coast at Castellon/Burriana, something like six miles offshore now.
12:55
The committee boat is now moving slightly to the west, we believe and the race boats, Alinghi 5 and USA, are moving west as well. It is certainly still cold on the water and the wind chill on board the competing boats, when they ramp up to 20-odd knots boat speeds will be significant.
12:51
So it looks we could be Game On, America's Cup history in the making, the first time we have seen two multihulls in the America's Cup match. Windward mark breeze is 130° at 4 knots and at the committe boat 195° 5 knots, conditions improving all the time. But in general we are having breezes which were forecast. Both boats are sailing around seven to nine knots.
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Un'edizione caratterizzata da un preambolo davvero aspro di lotte legali durissime, persino peggiori di quelle che scossero l'edizione del 1988.
Le barche di questa edizione sono assai diverse da quelle cui ci avevano abituati le edizioni precedenti (il tipo di imbarcazione e' concordato da sfidante e sfidato, e i multiscafi sono ammessi, come chiarito appunto nell'88 ).
Una soluzione a catamarano per i difensori svizzeri di Alinghi, e un trimarano per lo sfidante BMW Oracle, ribattezzato USA.
Ma l'eccezionalita' della soluzione americana va ben oltre lo scafo, dato che utilizza una vela rigida a corda cortissima nota come "ala".
Sin dai preamboli, quando ancora si temeva un ulteriore rinvio, Alinghi ha dato prova dell'incredibile efficienza di queste imbarcazioni, navigando senza sforzo apparente a 14-15 nodi con un vento di appena 6 nodi, mentre USA ha dimostrato di poter viaggiare a circa 2,7 volte la velocita' del vento effettivo durante il corso dell'evento (rispetto al coefficiente di appena 1.4-1.6 della maggioranza delle imbarcazioni), grazie alla sua capacita' di stringere il vento apparente davvero bene e alla soluzione multiscafo che offre una resistenza davvero ridotta, specie quando poi fatto navigare con lo scafo sopravvento "volante", come accade in questo genere di competizioni.
L'avvio e' stato ricco di colpi di scena e suspance, a partire dalla probabilita' di un nuovo rinvio, poi scongiurato. La gara e' apparsa inizialmente propizia per USA, che e' riuscito a imporre la penalita' tanto temuta su Alinghi.
Alle 14:33, pero', USA ha patito una partenza davvero nefasta, venendosi a trovare oltre la linea di partenza al momento del via, mentre Alinghi stava sopraggiungendo gia' ben lanciata . USA e' stata costretta dunque a ritornare prima della linea e ripartire, mentre alle 14:38 Alinghi guadagnava gia' oltre 650 metri di vantaggio, schizzando via sopra i 23 nodi.
Ma a questo punto USA ha dimostrato la schiacciante superiorita' delle soluzioni adottate dal team americano, sia per lo scafo trimarano, sia per l'ala.
USA ha riguadagnato in meno di 15 minuti la distanza persa, e ha superato alinghi con le barche che viaggiavano a 17-19 nodi in un vento di 6-7 nodi.
La barca americana ha mostrato per tutta la durata della regata una capacita' superiore di stringere il vento rispetto all'avversaria svizzera, e una velocita' maggiore col vento al traverso, risultando in sostanza piu' rapida in ogni condizione.
USA ha tagliato il traguardo con 15 minuti di vantaggio, in una gara altamente spettacolare, grazie anche alla tipologia di imbarcazioni coinvolte.
Qui potete trovare immagini davvero spettacolari della regata.
http://www.americascup.com/en/multimedia/gallery/index.php
Di seguito il "live ticker" dell'evento, preso direttamente dal sito dell'America's Cup. Va letto dal fondo a salire.
17:22
Alinghi appear not to have completed their penalty properly and so the final delta is 15 minutes and 28 seconds.
17:08
And USA cross the finish line to provisionally win Race 1 of the 33rd America's Cup. Delight for the American team and certain vindication in these conditions for the concept of the solid wing sail and the trimaran platform.
16:53
Alinghi shedding some water ballast again trying to keep the power on in the lighter conditions. Something like 10 minutes to the finish line.
16:46
Hard to judge what the delta will be, but the biggest recent Cup Match margins were in the 27th America's Cup in 1988, the Deed of Gift 'mis-match', when USA's Stars and Stripes consecutively defeated New Zealand's KZ1 by 18 minutes and 15 seconds and then 21 minutes and 10 seconds.
16:43
Over half way down the downwind leg now.
16:37
USA extending all the time, sailing deeper and faster all the time than Alinghi who are now 3440 metres behind. Certainly the consensus at the moment is that the power and efficiency of the BMW ORACLE Racing Team wing is actually more telling downwind.
16:26
So USA is making 26 knots downwind and seem to consistently be able to fly their windward hulls for longer, peaking now at 28.5 knots of boat speed. Wind speed at the finish is eight knots at 160 degrees. And great work from Harold Bennett and his crew getting this race away, a great spectacle.
16:24
Alinghi gybe first, USA respond almost immediately. USA leading by 2980 metres or so.
16:13
And USA peak speed there is around 25 knots as they spear deeper and faster 'downind' than Alinghi in a puff, and as soon as they get their bow lower and sail faster than Alinghi for any length of time then their gains multiply. Now over 2000 metres of lead to USA. Big changes in course as the apparent wind builds and the leader powers up, Jimmy Spithill USA helmsman bringing the bow down and sailing deep and fast. Alinghi pressing well too.
16:11
So net on that upwind leg BMW Oracle pulled back something around 5 minutes on Alinghi, including that initial deficit.
16:06
Wind looks a little lighter but Alinghi marginal for flying a hull on approach to the turning mark, they go around 3 minutes 21 seconds - we believe - behind USA
16:04
And at an hour and a half after the start USA bear away at the windward mark first, unrolling their huge downwind headsail, breeze is about seven knots.
15:58
Alinghi tacking now on to port for their approach to mark 1, navigator Juan Vila (ESP) calling the time to the top mark to helm Bertarelli, tactician Brad Butterworth, strategist Murray Jones, all, of course, America's Cup winners. Bow and mast crew are preparing the downwind headsail, as they are on USA. Advantage to USA about 1400 metres or so.
15:55
USA now approaching the port tack layline, an hour and 21 minutes after the start, their speed dropping to 6.5 knots as they tack. Speed building on port tack now. Alinghi still to tack. Will they take their penalty before the turn, or hang on?
15:50
Still Ernesto Bertarelli steering Alinghi, just getting a little marginal to keep the weather hull flying on Alinghi. USA have unrolled an upwind headsail to apply a little more power, anticipating the softening of the breeze as they approach the windward mark.
15:46
So downwind there is very little difference between the apparent wind angle generated to that upwind, only five or six degrees. Breeze has dropped a little for both as they approach the port lay line. The wind is between 160 degrees at 10 knots at the windward mark.
15:41
The question is when Alinghi will do their penalty, they must do a gybe if they are going upwind or a tack if they are going downwind. Breeze has picked up to around 10 knots at the windward mark. USA are setting up their giant gennaker for the downwind leg.
15:35
Around six miles to the windward mark, one hour and two minutes into the whole 40 miles race. BMW ORACLE Racing leading by something like 1260 metres.
15:31
So USA lead now by 730 metres and as the breeze decreases we see Alinghi shedding some water ballast. Breeze at the weather mark is around seven knots at 165 degrees.
15:24
Alinghi tack but so far no response from USA. Alinghi's speed only dropped to 10 knots through the tack and they looked pretty slick. USA tacks now.
15:06
So certainly much closer than most expected, really not much between them in terms of boat speed. Speculation had the crossover between the two around 8-9 knots wind speed perhaps and we are pretty close to that. At the top mark we hear the wind is lighter, maybe 5.5 to 6 knots. About half way up the 20 miles beat now. Really very close, despite the huge differences in design philosophy. Perhaps the design teams taking a quiet sigh of relief, but huge credit is due to both design and build teams.... and those who have put in the hundreds of thousands of man hours of labour to get here. Fantastic match so far.....
15:03
Alinghi catching, now 140 metres or so behind when they were 440 metres behind.
14:57
And USA sitting consistently higher and faster, wing only. Dirk De Ridder (NED) trimming the wing, very experienced sailor on his second America's Cup, won the round the world race with USA tactician John Kostecki and trimmer Ross Halcrow.
14:55
USA have now rolled away their jib and are flying wing only, no jib and are expected to point a little higher, now making consistently 19 knots plus and hit 20 knots boat speed.
14:51
So at around 15 minutes after the start USA overhaul Alinghi and make good that initial deficit of around 650 metres when they got across the start line. Both making between 17 and 19 knots in 6-7 knots.
14:49
USA appear to have their weather hull flying higher consistently and are sailing at a very slightly higher angle to the breeze. 180 degrees at the windward mark, eight knots.
14:45
And USA are closing in to Alinghi now there is 235 metres between the two, but of course Alinghi have their penalty to unload. But there is really little difference in speed, USA maybe has the small edge.
14:40
At the Windward Mark we now have 8 knots of wind at 180°, Alinghi have changed now to an upwind jib from their bigger GZero. Alinghi's lead has almost halved since the start, around 450 metres ahead.
14:38
Alinghi lead by about 650 metres, boat speeds are roughly even around 18 knots. USA are now catching a little less than five minutes into Race 1. USA look to be sailing a few degrees higher but they are in slightly different pressure.
14:36
USA have not yet started and it is about 1 minute 45 seconds after the gun that the challenger gets back to the start line.
14:33
USA to the right and both boats are above the start line, Alinghi have the penalty. USA have stalled, flat footed and are stuck, Alinghi win the start and USA are all but stopped on the wrong side of the line.
14:32
Both very slow with two minutes to go, Alinghi pinned to the left of the box a little and USA have the upper hand for sure.
14:30
Alinghi cannot cross and USA take the immediate advantage, USA force penalty on Alinghi for failing to keep clear.
14:29
Getting ready for entry to the start box at 5 mins, timing is crucial. Alinghi at 23 knots USA making 17 knots as the gun.
14:25
The excitement is palpable now, tension unbelievable. We are inside the ten minutes countdown. Breeze still around five to six knots. USA dropping the gennaker to the deck making a change and now have a light genoa and USA eject a back-up crew into the water at around 6min 30 to go.
14:22
USA 17 have rolled their headsail away again and are on station at the committee boat as the AP flag comes down, game on.
14:18
So Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett confirms now that the breeze has settled again and he plans to drop the AP flag at 1424 local time, Attention signal 1425h, start planned 1435hrs. USA roll their headsail out again and away they go.
14:13
Still Alinghi are a sailing around at 15 to 16 knots of boat speed, occasionally flying a hull. They seem to want to go racing for sure, USA still holding fire cruising six or seven knots with their headsail away now. Breeze is 155 deg at the WW1 and start, 160 deg in middle of track and 155 at the start area, 3 knots at the startline area and 5 knots offshore at WW1 mark.
14:01
So we remain on hold, breeze is reported to have dropped to 2-3 knots.
13:57
Conditions could not be better, 2 minutes to the AP down. Ten minutes to the start after that. The final coordinates of the WW1 mark is 39°29´9590N / 00°03´0580 E. AP flag has remained up so the planned start schedule is delayed. Breeze has dropped a little but both boats still making over ten knots.
13:51
USA 17 have a big 'downwind' headsail up, Mast man Matt Mason confirmed yesterday that skipper-helm James Spithill was fired up to go for a penalty on Alinghi 5 if at all possible.
13:37
AP flag will come down at 1359hrs, F flag signal at 1400hrs. Wind WW1 mark is 175° at 6 knots and at the committee boat it is 185° wind speed 7 knots. Looks like we will get Race 1 of the 33rd America's Cup under way. Practice races have previously taken between 2.5 and 3.5 hours on this Deed of Gift race. USA 17 have now unrolled their jib.
13:29
Just ten degrees of difference between the wind direction at the WW1 mark and the start line, 180° 6,5 knots at the cttee boat, and 190° 6 knots at WW 1 windward mark, which is pretty favourable. Seas are flat-ish.
13:27
Breeze is quite puffy where Alinghi 5 are going through their paces, making 17 knots, flying their hull high for a few seconds before settling, pretty spectacular.
13:22
USA just keeping their powder dry meantime, maybe Alinghi pressing the impetus to go racing, showing the conditions look good but race officer Harold Bennett just biding his time, waiting for the conditions to improve a little more. USA sitting almost stationery.
13:19
Alinghi accelerate immediately to 17 to 18 knots in five knots of wind, flying a hull and this is them just warming up. Breeze seems stable in terms of direction all the way down the course, around, most recently 3,5 knots at 165°at the WW1 mark and 190 ° 6 knots at the Committee Boat.
13:14
So still looking pretty good with the wind at 180° blowing 6.5 knots at Committe boat and 195° and 5 knots at the WW1 mark. Breeze is reported to by quite puffy at the moment, with some variation in pressure across the course. But that is pretty inevitable given that the windward leg will of course be 20 miles. Alinghi unrolling a light no 1 jib. BMW Oracle still no jib yet.
13:06
Loick Peyron (FRA) is on the helm of Alinghi 5 at the moment. Might he have the helm at the start? He said the other day that he certainly never expected to be racing the America's Cup in a multihull, but here he is....the only man on board the Swiss defender never to have won the America's Cup. He is due to alternate with Ernesto Bertarelli. Peyron said he was only expecting to share the steering when required, through tacks and so on, but we will see....
13:02
Start line is moving three miles to the east, further off the coast at Castellon/Burriana, something like six miles offshore now.
12:55
The committee boat is now moving slightly to the west, we believe and the race boats, Alinghi 5 and USA, are moving west as well. It is certainly still cold on the water and the wind chill on board the competing boats, when they ramp up to 20-odd knots boat speeds will be significant.
12:51
So it looks we could be Game On, America's Cup history in the making, the first time we have seen two multihulls in the America's Cup match. Windward mark breeze is 130° at 4 knots and at the committe boat 195° 5 knots, conditions improving all the time. But in general we are having breezes which were forecast. Both boats are sailing around seven to nine knots.
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