SAN DIEGO—No amount of jet lag could keep helmsman James Spithill from smiling about the prospect of getting back onboard one of the world’s fastest sailboats.
Spithill and other sailors with America’s Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing are waiting for the shore team to finish preparing their modified 90-foot trimaran to they can resume testing on the Pacific Ocean later this week.
“Once you get a taste of this sort of a boat, you just sort of get addicted to it. We’re all pretty keen to get on with it,” Spithill said Tuesday, a day after arriving from a regatta in France.
The monster trimaran, known as BOR 90, hasn’t sailed since March 3. Since then, San Francisco-based BMW Oracle Racing won its last-chance appeal in New York’s highest court and was declared the rightful Challenger of Record.
The Americans will face bitter rival and two-time defending America’s Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland in a best-of-3 series starting Feb. 8 for the oldest trophy in international sports.
BOR 90 has been hidden away in a temporary boatshed for four months as it was modified…Â Details
BMW ORACLE Racing today launched their trimaran in San Diego as the team prepares to sea trial the 90-foot by 90-foot high-tech racing machine. The mast will be installed dockside and the boat will be load-tested before the huge multihull is tested by the crew in the waters off Point Loma.
‘We are really excited to get out on the water,’ said helmsman James Spithill (AUS). ‘We still have plenty to do to complete sea trials and be ready for the America’s Cup in February so every day counts. It is only seven months until the America’s Cup so we are now in the home stretch.’
BMW ORACLE Racing is the Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup. The team will meet the Swiss Defender Alinghi in a best two-of-three head-to-head duel starting February 8. The venue for the competition will be named by the Defender by August 8.
The team will test the trimaran in San Diego this summer.
‘This is cutting-edge technology and sailing. We look forward to testing how fast is fast,’ said Spithill…Â Details and great pictures
Neville Crichton’s Reichel Pugh 100, Alfa Romeo, established a new 24-hour run Transpac record from yesterday’s early morning position report through 0600 on July 7th. Alfa Romeo covered 399 nautical miles and surpassed the previous record set by Morning Glory during the 2005 Los Angeles to Hawaii Transpacific Yacht Race.
Tim Fuller and Erik Shampain’s suntanned backs have the outline of the yellow jersey etched on them for yet another day. The two have been in the lead for over a week and have been wearing it for longer than Fabian Cancellara has been wearing his in the Tour de France.
Up to the north, Charisma continues to lead Division VII. The Division is strewn out over 250 miles, with Lynx in the rear averaging 3.5 knots.
We have a new leader among the Santa Cruz 50’s in Division V. The 0600 roll call shows …Â Details
While most boaters’ biggest fears involve falling overboard, storms at sea, lee shores and cargo ships, these hazards don’t come close to the statistical dangers posed by old Sol. There’s a reason they call skin cancer the sailor’s disease, as the intense sun exposure we boaters face during even overcast weather can be dangerous, and when sailing on brilliant summer days, with the sunlight reflecting off of the water and snow-white decks, this exposure can eventually be deadly. Luckily, there are simple steps we can take to lessen our exposure to the UV rays, without cutting into the fun. Like so much else in regard to boating safety, it’s all about preparation and prevention.
Much of your risk for skin cancer is genetic. If you have a history of skin cancer in your family, blond or red hair, blue or green eyes, and/or a lot of moles, you are at higher risk… Details