Cup Experience News | Practice Race Results | Nick Holroyd Video: Foil Design | Wind Model by Airbus | J Class Racing

Cup Experience News | Practice Race Results | Nick Holroyd Video: Foil Design | Wind Model by Airbus | J Class Racing


Cup Experience News

Issue 52 | Monday 17 April 2017 39 days until racing begins

In this issue:

  • Practice Race Results - Artemis Undefeated
  • Nick Holroyd Video: Foil Design Details
  • Wind Model by Airbus
  • Ask Jack: How are Land Rover BAR doing?
  • J Class Race Viewing
  • Practice Race Results - Artemis Undefeated

"Artemis Racing have made a massive jump in the last two or three weeks"
- Russell Coutts

The five America’s Cup teams in Bermuda held the second series of test races in their America’s Cup Class race boats – 17 races in all. In windy conditions Artemis dominated, winning all nine races, including four against Oracle. Oracle beat everyone else, including three wins against stablemates SoftBank Team Japan. Team Japan lost five races but beat Land Rover BAR and Groupama Team France once each. BAR raced each team once, beating only the French. France raced each team once, losing to everyone.

But... All of the teams will continue improving!

France has good straightline speed but are still mastering their boat and the control systems.
BAR has great crew work on a slow boat that they will continue to develop.
Team Japan, like the French, has a fast boat and will continue to improve.
Oracle has heaps of resources and experience at making a comeback.
Artemis will keep getting faster.


And we will probably see the newly-arrived-inBermuda Kiwis in the next series of practice races, 24-28 April.


More info and videos here.


  • Nick Holroyd Video - Foil Design Details

As head of the design team for Emirates Team New Zealand for the 2013 America's Cup, Nick Holroyd helped lead the surprise move to foiling. Now with SoftBank Team Japan, Nick's design work helps make sure Team Japan will have a fast boat. This is a really good video that explains the tradeoffs in designing winning foils, and the new way that the rudders are being used. Click the photo to see the video.

Rudder rake differential adds righting moment with downforce from windward rudder's horizontal stabilizer.


  • Oracle's Wind Model for the Great Sound, by Airbus

Looking for every possible advantage in the America’s Cup, Oracle Team USA has a small scale wind model for Bermuda’s Great Sound. Technical partner Airbus built the model for them using large quantities of wind data the team has collected over the last two years from their test boats, chase boats and the crane at their base. Large scale models for the Atlantic cannot be scaled down into reliable models for the Great Sound, since it is enclosed and subject local effects unrelated to the rest of the Atlantic. View the video here.

Join the Conversation on the Cup Experience Facebook Group.


  • Reader Questions to "Ask Jack"
  • from jim in uk
  • ask jack!
  • Hi Jack. Great blog! Am keen to know if more practice races are taking place at present and if so, what the unofficial results are. As a Brit, I am keen to know if there has been an improvement in BAR...
  • Hi Jim, Thanks for the enthusiasm and for the question! You can see from this newsletter that BAR was still lagging most of the field in the most recent racing. But... take heart - there is a lot of development work yet to be done on the boat, and all the teams have admired the excellent crew work on board Land Rover BAR. Remember that Oracle didn't get into high gear until midway through the America's Cup Match in 2013. With their two bonus points from their AC World Series win, BAR are practically guaranteed a spot in the Challenger Playoff semi-finals. So, they have 39 more days before the racing begins, 10 races in the Qualifiers and at least 10 races in the Challenger Playoffs if they win their semi-final. That's a lot of time to develop the boat. If they make it to the Match, they will be race-hardened and ready.

  • Watch the J Class Race

The J Class are magnificent yachts that dwarf most other boats. The J Class were raced by Lipton, Vanderbilt and Sopwith in three America's Cups - 1930, 1934 and 1937 - one of the true Golden Ages of the America's Cup There will be three days of J Class racing - 16,19,20 June, off the North Shore, in Murray's Anchorage. Take in all the excitement and beauty of these incredibly powerful yachts.

Sunset cruises, exclusive dinners, sail out to watch the J Class race... Caroline Bay offers you the opportunity with your friends or business associates to join us on board this very special, three-masted, 157 foot long sailing superyacht. For more information click the photo or this link.


  • Cruising to Bermuda?
    Caroline Bay Marina Reservations Are Open!

Bermuda's brand new marina is now taking reservations. With attractive rates and full services including provisioning, high capacity shore power, fuel, pump out service and friendly, professional staff, the Caroline Bay Marina is probably your best choice while you're Bermuda. Let us tell you about our special offers for marina guests on board Arabella. Click the map or here to request a quotation and to get more information.