21 Jan 2011 |
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It is clear that the future of high end racing lies in fast boats with dramatic action. The fact that fixed wing cats can capsize will probably add to the excitement. Check out this recent Oracle video on their development process to get to their fixed wing trimaran for AC 33. Brad Webb spoke about US 17's development during the evening of Jan 21 at the Golden Gate Yach Club. Based on his emotional account these guys were sliding down the razor's edge of technology with no idea how or when it would be tested on the water. The court battles and date shifts kept everything very dynamic and challenging, and they did not complete a full upwind/downwind testing leg until the first race. Other great stories included US 17 doing a trial run in Valencia when the winds were really gusting hard, noting that Alinghi never came out of the harbor and turned right back in the channel due to the winds. Here are some hints of what's to come from the Oracle Racing Team site
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