Over the past two days, the sailing world has glimpsed some of the most advanced sailing technology ever seen.
Last Monday BMW Oracle Racing relaunched their trimaran, BOR90 after a period of substantial modification following several session sailing trials off Anacortes and San Diego.
Like Alinghi 5 revealed the day before in Villeneuve, Switzerland, BOR90 featured the wave piercer bow – one of several modifications from her previous mode.
Sail-World asked multihull and high performance sailing guru, Steve Clark how these bows work and that the designers are trying to achieve with this style…Â Details & Great Pictures
Dreary, rainy and overcast, it wasn’t an optimal day for sailing on Boston Harbor.
However, Waltham resident Ryck Lent sounded the part of a lifelong sailor when he recalled an old seafarer’s saying, “A bad day on the water is better than a good day behind the desk.”
Lent took part in the Carroll Cup Challenge blind sailing race, in which three teams of blind sailors from the Carroll Center for the Blind’s SailBlind program raced from Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown across the harbor to the finish at the Boston Harbor Hotel.
The teams were …Â Details
Switzerland – After rumors, speculation, the release of partial, cryptic photos and much whining in the media regarding a lockdown on press access, the 90 foot carbon composite Alinghi 5 catamaran has splashed down on Lake Geneva. Intended for the America’s Cup Deed of Gift race with BMW Oracle, this big cat has been the focus of attention for many an armchair sailor. And what does it look like, this marvel of modern sailing design? As you can see for yourself, it’s, um… a big catamaran. Simple, minimalist, and by the looks of it, fast.Â
Obviously, looking fast is not the important part; being fast is what matters. As the boat now goes into its on-the-water testing phase, we get to see whether the draftsman’s pen (well, 3D CAD rendering) will stand up to the real world. There’s nothing too … Details & great pictures
With one minute until the race begins, Bill Rapp yells from the back of the sailboat, “Ready about!’’ The sail swings, and the four-member crew scrambles into position. Barreling through Boston Harbor, they are off.
“You’re going to get a little breeze here, Matt,’’ says Rapp. “Just feel your way.’’
Matthew Chao, who cannot see the course ahead, the sails above, or the tiller he holds in his hand, feels the air on his face. He shifts, steering the boat gently.
Yesterday morning, Chao and fellow crewman Bruce Howell, who are both legally blind, competed against …Â Details