tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564958057737541664.post5047469589015025255..comments2024-02-14T17:11:22.168-08:00Comments on On Bicycles, and.... what else is there?: comment on America's Cup in San Franciscodjconnelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484858820878605035noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564958057737541664.post-24810452157041909752013-09-27T21:23:56.321-07:002013-09-27T21:23:56.321-07:00Any "best of ..." series has an indeterm...Any "best of ..." series has an indeterminate end date, and in most cases (e.g., baseball), an indeterminate end location. One that relies on weather even more so. Postponements and delays have always been part of the America's Cup - what's new (and welcome) is the ability to actually see the thing!<br /><br />We heard a talk by some of the OTUSA team about a week before the final. They seemed very confident that they had the faster boat. Considering how much of the hand that ETNZ had already shown in the LV Cup (why? they where much faster) and all the telemetry that was effectively available from the TV coverage, it's surprising what a beating OTUSA took in the first races.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15001979905480745740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564958057737541664.post-61662413049707909732013-09-27T14:32:23.053-07:002013-09-27T14:32:23.053-07:00Rather the wind limits created an indeterminate sc...Rather the wind limits created an indeterminate schedule. Nobody could book flights, take vacation time, sufficient to guarantee (within reasonable probability) seeing the final. If I was going to have gone to the cycling road world championships in Florance this weekend, I'd have gone for a week, flying home Monday, and I'd be good. With America's Cup the probability of postponement was high. Had the limit been the original 30 knots, perhaps with a 45 instead of a 40 minute time limit, postponement would have been exceptional, and people would have had confidence in the schedule.<br /><br />OTUSA's boat was intrinsically more aerodynamic, so they certainly had more upside potential for improvements. ETNZ was already close to their performance limit from the start. So in a way the best boat won.<br /><br />I think this race got such huge television ratings and spectator interest that the game has changed on the America's Cup, and more money will be attracted to the support. But they also need to get a cap on the cost side.djconnelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484858820878605035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564958057737541664.post-42321763046440613332013-09-27T13:49:58.467-07:002013-09-27T13:49:58.467-07:00How were the wind limits indeterminate? They see...How were the wind limits indeterminate? They seemed clearly defined and stated ahead of time. It was known long ago that they would be an issue - the winds on the Bay are always high. Especially once they were lowered after the Artemis crash it was clear they would be a factor.<br /><br />The time limit was a bit strange, but once again there have always been (seemingly arbitrary) time limits. At least in this one they weren't 5+ hours (like they used to be) -- how frustrating would it be on the verge of winning a race after 5 hours just to have it called off? <br /><br />Great races though, hope the next ones are as good. ETNZ did have more prep time (the didn't wreck a boat) but it was clear that there was a very steep learning curve. Amazing it took OTUSA so long to learn how to sail their boat, and even more amazing that it all came together at just the right time.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15001979905480745740noreply@blogger.com