Cup Experience Monday News | Team France Avoids Capsize | Bermuda Bounces Back After Nicole | What Do You Notice Here?

Cup Experience News

Issue 37 | Monday 17 October 2016

In this issue:

Groupama Team France Avoids a Capsize While Training
Bermuda Bounces Back from Direct Hit by Hurricane Nicole
What Do You Notice About these Photos?
Ask Jack: Why do they sail like that?

Avoiding a Capsize - Groupama Team France Video

This Team France video shows them training in Lorient, France with their AC45x test boat. I don't think they were in real danger of capsizing, but the gybe at 40 seconds into the video did not go right! Of course, we've seen footage of all the teams splashing down as they work to master their manoeuvres. Click the photo to watch the video.

At about 40 seconds into the video they start a gybe but the boat starts to heel too much. They make a quick recovery and the boat splashes down off its foils.

Notice the camber in the wing and the angle of the horizon.

All the camber is released and the horizon is at a less scary angle.

Hurricane Nicole Makes Direct Hit on Bermuda - Video

On Friday 14 October, the eye of Force 4 Hurricane Nicole passed directly over Bermuda. Winds hit 114 mph before and after the eye. Ninety percent of Bermudian households lost electric power but only seven minor injuries were reported.

All three America's Cup teams were well prepared and came through the storm unscathed. Oracle Team USA posted this video showing the storm at its peak, with before and after images from their base. Click the image to watch the video.

What Do You Notice About the Way These Boats Sail?

Oracle Team USA in their AC45X test boat.

Oracle and Team Japan training in Bermuda.

Land Rover BAR training in their AC45X.

Have you noticed that the AC45X test boats often sail bow down when foiling? Read "Ask Jack" below for a short explanation of why they sail this way.

Join the Conversation on the Cup Experience Facebook Group.

Reader Questions to "Ask Jack"

from Dennis in Canada
ask jack!

Hi Jack. Many photos show the AC45x test boats foiling in a "bow down" trim. Why do they sail that way?

Hi Dennis, Thanks for this question. One of my best sources helped me understand this. Lift increases with speed and with angle of attack. The rudder elevators generate more lift at higher speed, pitching the boat into the bow down attitude. This reduces the angle of attack of the rudder elevators, providing pitch stability. The longer answer gets into the load per unit area on the rudder elevators compared to the daggerboard wings, and the way pitch - heave coupling can produce either stable (good) or unstable (bad) ride height and and pitch. I'm working on a detailed article about this. Watch for it in a future issue.

America's Cup Guide