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Bowsprit Makes New Sloop Stand Out:Posted By: Theodore Taylor By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer The only American team in the America's Cup welcomed a boat with a bowsprit into its stable on Monday.BMW Oracle Racing christened its new sloop, USA 87, at its compound in Valencia, Spain, where the next America's Cup will be held in 2007. "This is like a new child coming into the family," skipper and CEO Chris Dickson said by phone shortly before his wife, Sue, smashed a bottle of champagne across the bow of the 80-foot sloop. And this one has quite the birthmark. Although Dickson said USA 87 has many high-tech advancements not visible to landlubbers, it does have one that stands out — the short spar extending from the bow used to attach an asymmetrical spinnaker while sailing downwind. Bowsprits also are designed to save weight and reduce wind drag while sailing upwind. "It's the way the class rule has changed since the last cup," Dickson said. "Although it has quite a visual impression, it has a very minor effect on performance. It's one of many, many sail handling developments, although a very visible one." Then again, many design tweaks are meant to try to save a second or two around the course, which can mean the difference in a multimillion-dollar campaign winning or losing. A bowsprit hasn't been seen in an America's Cup regatta since 1992. New Zealand's red sloop stood out from the fleet with its bowsprit, but its Italian opponent in the challenger finals successfully protested that it had been illegally used. The Kiwis fell apart, losing the series. Dickson said USA 87 has been on the water only once, so the bowsprit's effect won't be known until it goes through extensive testing. "She floats and we're very happy with what we've got," Dickson said. "We've got a lot of sea trailing to go through to get the best out of her." And it remains to be see if the San Francisco-based syndicate will use a bowsprit in the challenger trials that start in 13 months. BMW Oracle Racing is building a second sloop. But true to America's Cup paranoia, it won't say when that yacht will be finished. The hull of USA 87 was built in Anacortes, Wash., and flown from Seattle to Valencia in a giant Russian cargo plane. Dickson said USA 87 is a "quantum leap forward" from its predecessor, USA 76. "In general terms, the new boat is lighter, it's stronger, carries more sail area and has more horsepower," Dickson said. "To the untrained eyes it's another AC boat, just like you might get another Formula One or BMW car. But to the trained eye, everything is new and different." USA 76 reached the challenger finals in Auckland, New Zealand, three years ago before losing to Alinghi of Switzerland. Alinghi went on to sweep Team New Zealand, becoming the first European-based team to win the America's Cup. Although BMW Oracle Racing flies the American flag, its crew is made up of many New Zealanders, including Dickson. The syndicate is owned by Silicon Valley tycoon Larry Ellison and backed by the German automaker. Courtesy Of: Yahoo! News The information reported above is property of Yahoo! inc. and reprinted or modified with legitimate permission. We thank Yahoo! inc. for the kind cooperation with us and other shareholders. |
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