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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| America's Cup boats use innovative design built for speed and power |
| 2013-09-12 |
| The AC72 features a rigid 131-foot wing sail. Think of it as a jumbo jetliner wing stood on its end, but with some flexibility that allows for adjustments to the wind. The two catamarans zipping across San Francisco Bay in the America's Cup finals each weighs about 163 tons less than America, the winning yacht in 1851 and namesake for sports' oldest active trophy. The lighter load obviously helps these boats achieve speeds up to 50 mph, but there's much more to their design; both are engineering marvels that maximize the energy provided by wind and water. The AC72 (America's Cup, 72 feet long) catamarans are defending America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA, owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, and challenger Emirates Team New Zealand. The Kiwis have won four of the first five races and need five more wins to claim the trophy, and Oracle Team USA needs 10 more wins (because of a penalty) to retain the Cup. Racing resumes Thursday. Unlike the soft sails and single hull used by America and most of the boats in the event's history, the innovative AC72s are built for speed and power. "When you move from a conventional boat like a monohull to a multihull, there is a sudden increase in boat speed," said Mario Camponnetto, one of five senior designers for Oracle Team USA. The key feature in the AC72's design is the rigid 131-foot wing sail, essentially a jumbo jetliner wing stood on its end. But there is some flexibility that allows for adjustments to the wind — the wing sail has two primary parts, a main element and a flap, connected by a hinge that can be moved to control the angle between the two. And it's the angle at which wind encounters the sail that makes all the difference in generating maximum power. |
| Posted by:Au Auric |
| #1 Break out the Bofors, the Cup must be defended. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-09-12 17:24 |