"We just don't want the America's Cup, we want the whole damn island!" Tom Blackaller.
"Twelves will be twelves for a while, no catamarans and trimarans yet." Gary Mull.
Aussies beware! Bring out your boxing gloves. The Golden Gate Challenge is throwing down the gauntlet, as its two twelve meter yachts thrashed it out last weekend out on San Francisco Bay. Slicing thru a surging ebb tide like butter, the new radical boat left its little brother E-1, US 49, battered and bruised 47 seconds in arrears.
The day which began with an unassuming air, took several dramatic turns which left the two boats rather beat up as well as the crews and by the afternoon’s end our own boat provided much of the day’s drama. We went submarine racing for several seconds before popping up in dramatic fashion after getting sucked under by the ‘Bay’s infamous tidal rush. Anyway, back to the story.
In the first and last of a series of demonstration races between the two USA’s, the boats sailed the fine line of spectacle and spectacular with R-1, US 61 showing exceptional upwind speed, despite a jib change that cost the boat 40 seconds at the first leeward mark.
The race was delayed by 45 minutes as the two twelve’s collided during the starting sequence. The collision was the result of wind shift from a helicopter, which was photographing the boats from a low altitude. The turbulence was great enough to send the boats crashing into each other. The result left E-1 with a nice shot in the bow from R-1.
“E-1 got to close to R-1 and R-1 put a hole in it,” exclaimed the excited skipper Tom Blackaller. “R-1, US 61 is a tough boat and it just shows the Australians had better look out! Anytime they get too close to R-1, its going to put a hole in it.”
“Blackaller doesn’t shoot blanks,” shouted Golden Gate Challenge General Manager Ron Young. “He won’t let anything daunt him, Aussies, beware!”
According to Young, "The helicopter came in on the port quarter of E-1. As it came in the turbulence caused an accidental jibe on E-1. In that situation E-l can't be on a port jibe, because R-I had the right of way. E-l, with Paul Cayard at the helm, quickly brought in its mainsail to keep from being on a port jibe. In doing this, E-l got spun around.”
Meantime, Blackaller, realizing the helicopter's presence, tried to turn away in R-1. At the same time that he was turning away, E-l spun around and they collided.
"In the protest room, in actual racing conditions, everybody would have to recognize the helicopter's cause and effect for the whole collision," said Young.
"In reality, that guy (the helicopter) was in violation today, Young said. "He was under the 100 foot limit and below the mast." E-l took it on the flat part of the starboard side of the bow. The damage was not severe, as E-l was duck taped up and sent back into the game.
After the delay, the two twelve’s entered the starting arena again, Cayard and E-l won the start by 7 seconds. R-l appeared to circle its opponent at a slower rate, possible due to revolutionary configuration of its radical hull and front rudder steering, with its torpedo shaped keel.
Once R-l crossed the line heading into the wind towards the first mark off Crissy Field, the revolutionary new twelve picked up speed very quickly as it sailed straight up into the breeze. E-l maintained its advantage around the first mark, displaying a preference for the heavier conditions for which it was designed.
R-l took control under spinnaker, with a timely pass in front of the marina, as E-l luffed, allowing R-l quick passage towards the first leeward mark. Blackaller lost nearly 40 seconds rounding the Buoy at Blossom Rock by not getting his jib up fast enough. Cayard, seized an advantage and what should have been a fatal blow, but again R-l showed blazing speed into the wind and was able to overcome its mistake.
USA designer and Star Wars scientist Heiner Meldner ,was on hand to watch his two high-tech creations pound it out. Along with Gary Mull and Alberto, Calderon, Meldner was responsible for working out R-l's radical hull shape on the Cray MX-P 48 supercomputer. The Cray processes nearly a billion operations per second, working at such a high rate of speed that it 'has to be cooled by Freon gas.
"There are a lot of variables with this new boat," said Meldner. "We can win, for instance, and I'm giving you fantasy numbers by putting an extra foot in the boom, or adding 4,000 pounds to the keel." "The idea was to keep R-l well below a twelve, everywhere, and then see how much we have to stabilize it, before we are even," the according to Meldner, "The hard part is now to make it nice and consistent."
"The boat has all the fat we need. We have fat in every department. We have extra edges everywhere," said Meldner, "and that was the idea, so which way do we want to go?" asks Meldner.
Each day that R-l goes out she is accompanied by her tender, Trojan Lady. The two boats and E-l have sophisticated on-board computer systems which gather data, based on predicted outcome versus actual performance. Every day the challenge establishes a new set of target numbers.
At this point Meldner feels that they have accumulated enough data, "but we want more, you know." "The things that aren't predictable have to do with the handling reserve and ocean waves," says Meldner. "Right now I think we can say that we lucked out on all those transient numbers, we actually got more in the new design than in the standard design."
"Which wasn't predictable, you could have had some of the numbers just break even," this according to the good doctor. But, “so far, so good.”
"Visually there are a few things that are obvious, like the heel difference," says Meldner. "One is standing up, while the other sails down low." R-l sails straight up to the weather with good straight line speed.
"We're really tickled pink about it, said Meldner. “ We expected, I mean, I used to say, that we can't see it in performance, maybe just a degree or two, but now in open seas we are seeing five degrees. Which is, “a lot?”
In Perth the America's Cup course will have eight legs, compared to six in Newport, RI, and in 1983.The distance to the mark has been shortened from approximately 4 miles a leg to three. Straight line speed becomes a critical factor. No doubt R-l is a fast boat, but does the Golden Gate Challenge have enough time to develop their revolutionary thoroughbred?
In, reference to USA-R-l's ability to be flexible in changing weather conditions, with heavier air in the early round robins to moderate weather in January/February.
"That was a big thing that we really worked on hard," says Meldner, "to make sure that the boat is up all the time."
“With the 12-Meter formula, the way we did R-1, is that we can do it either way; light or heavy air,” Meldner states, with a smile. “That's nice.”
We have, to "prevent people from getting overconfident (about R-l's performance)," says Meldner. “It's a psychology game, you know." The Golden Gate Challenge announced this week that their revolutionary yacht USA-6l would be the one chosen to go to Perth. This announcement came as little surprise, as the first boat, USA-49, was built primarily for heavier wind conditions, and it was the evolutionary design in a two boat program.
Manager Ron Young relayed the information that the Golden Gate Challenge would indeed stick by their original plan to transport just one yacht to Australia.' "We're happy just taking one boat down," said Young. "I don't know why we would need to take two boats down; we know which boat is faster."
“R-l has worked itself up at a fast rate,” according to Young, adding; “the fact that she is already faster than E-l at this point is good.”
Though the syndicate has remained hush-hush about its radical underwater appendages, the conventional wisdom has twin rudders under the hull. The way that R-1 sails and handles at this point to the naked eye that would seem to be true.
“It’s complicated, real complicated," states' Blackaller,' "But it has real high potential, so we're really happy where it is right now." "R-l is a real high tech boat, it is much stronger than E-l,” said Blackaller. So "E-l, has to stay away from R-l, and the Australians had better be aware of that."
USA-61's revolutionary nature has created some problems for the crew, especially Blackaller, who regularly switches from boat to boat for developmental testing.
"You saw that it took Blackaller a while to get back in gear," states Young. "Saturday he was sailing on USA-49, which is different, and Cayard was kicking his butt on US 61."
"Today he got back on US-6l and he (Blackaller) sort of had to figure out how to get R-l to happen, how to make it go fast, so actually, the finish (47 seconds) was not that close," said Young, "given that Blackaller had lost 40 seconds at the first leeward mark."
USA-6I, was built by Robert E. Derecktor in Mamaroneck, New York: The primary reason for building at Derecktors was their experience in the construction of l2-Meter boats.
Dennis Connor commissioned Derecktor’s to build all three of his Stars and Stripes twelve meters there. The Golden Gate Challenge experienced several problems with Stevens Marine during the construction, of USA 49 E-1. The length of construction took more than 7 months, 3 more than the norm, with these boats. This problem, the result of the other problems was notably the re-welding of the frame, courtesy of Lloyds, severely crippled the challenge and may yet cost San Francisco the Cup. It is ironic that Blackaller hated these guys; before, the challenge began!
For these reasons and due to the revolutionary aspect of USA-6l, the Golden Gate Challenge built their boat in the East. R-I has proved itself to be fast out of the box, though unfortunately, she the will have only three short, but solid, weeks under its belt in San Francisco Bay.
The boat is due in Perth September 15 for measurement. That will give USA-6l just a few weeks of development before the first round-robin, which begins October 5. The first series of eliminations are worth just one point, compared to 5 points in second round robin. Then the December eliminations are worth a whopping 12 points per victory.
If USA-61comes tip to speed, Blackaller should be able to take advantage of the October series, for development, possibly sitting it out, keeping his cards close to his vest.
Blackaller was sketchy when asked about sailing in the October series. "No, I would say that is not likely.”
“October races are very low counting, that essentially was done to allow for tuning up," said Blackaller.
"Why else would you build a boat out of fiberglass, unless you wanted to cheat." Dennis Conner
Watch Out, Here Comes the Plastic Fantastic Kids!
Far away, in the remote waters of the Southern Hemisphere lies an island paradise, in a nuclear free zone which may become the next home of the America's Cup. The challenge from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron started slowly from the blocks before hitting their stride big time in the 12-Meter World Championships in Perth, W A.
With 24-year-old Chris Dickson at the helm and his dad, Roy, calling the shots, the Kiwi's. were able to bring their plastic boat' home to a second place finish, behind Australia 3, after only two weeks at sea.
The Auckland based challenge had to sift through a trio of financial backers before coming up with the right combination in merchant banker Michael Fay. The Kiwi's are now beginning to relish the notion of relieving their arch-rivals, the Aussies, of the America's Cup.
The icing was first applied to the cake when the second boat out of the mold, NZ-5, won the first heat in the Worlds. With New Zealand's two entries in the Whitbread, Lion and Enterprise, a wealth of Kiwi sailing talent in both events, watch out; here come the plastic fantastic kids! The Kiwi twelve’s measure 63', with a 45' waterline. The boats have short snub stern section and with a touch. of reverse psychology, the Kiwi's boldly display their winged keels.
The New Zealanders even camouflaged their fiberglass effort by storing high grade aluminum at McMullen and Wing. The boats do not have the Divinycell core. Rather, the form stringers are made from Nomex honeycomb. One problem which developed during the 12-Meter WorIds’ was rigging and mast failures to NZ-3 which relegated the B- Team yacht to a seventh place finish. A new zap spar was installed to accommodate the extra sail area.
Like America 2, NZ-5 can quickly change configurations for re-measurement in order to adapt to the changing weather conditions off Fremantle. The third twelve due this summer will be able to be re-ballasted as the season progresses. The yacht will not carry multiple rating certificates like Liberty in 1983. talent passed the Perth Worlds by, a frightening prospect for the foreign challengers to face. New Zealand entered both NZ-5 (A-team) and NZ3, placing second and seventh overall.
Dickson knocks Kookaburra's lain Murray (27) out of the saddle as the youngest skipper for this year's America's Cup. Dickson was World Youth Champion three years in a row and captured Citizens Match Race Series over Crusader's Harold Cudmore and Rod Davis from the Eagle Challenge.
Far away, in the remote waters of the Southern Hemisphere lies an island paradise, in a nuclear free zone which may become the next home of the America's Cup. The challenge from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron started slowly from the blocks before hitting their stride big time in the 12-Meter World Championships in Perth, W A.
With 24-year-old Chris Dickson at the helm and his dad, Roy, calling the shots, the Kiwi's. were able to bring their plastic boat' home to a second place finish, behind Australia 3, after only two weeks at sea.
The Auckland based challenge had to sift through a trio of financial backers before coming up with the right combination in merchant banker Michael Fay. The Kiwi's are now beginning to relish the notion of relieving their arch-rivals, the Aussies, of the America's Cup.
The icing was first applied to the cake when the second boat out of the mold, NZ-5, won the first heat in the Worlds. With New Zealand's two entries in the Whitbread, Lion and Enterprise, a wealth of Kiwi sailing talent in both events, watch out; here come the plastic fantastic kids! The Kiwi twelve’s measure 63', with a 45' waterline. The boats have short snub stern section and with a touch. of reverse psychology, the Kiwi's boldly display their winged keels.
The New Zealanders even camouflaged their fiberglass effort by storing high grade aluminum at McMullen and Wing. The boats do not have the Divinycell core. Rather, the form stringers are made from Nomex honeycomb. One problem which developed during the 12-Meter WorIds’ was rigging and mast failures to NZ-3 which relegated the B- Team yacht to a seventh place finish. A new zap spar was installed to accommodate the extra sail area.
Like America 2, NZ-5 can quickly change configurations for re-measurement in order to adapt to the changing weather conditions off Fremantle. The third twelve due this summer will be able to be re-ballasted as the season progresses. The yacht will not carry multiple rating certificates like Liberty in 1983. talent passed the Perth Worlds by, a frightening prospect for the foreign challengers to face. New Zealand entered both NZ-5 (A-team) and NZ3, placing second and seventh overall.
Dickson knocks Kookaburra's lain Murray (27) out of the saddle as the youngest skipper for this year's America's Cup. Dickson was World Youth Champion three years in a row and captured Citizens Match Race Series over Crusader's Harold Cudmore and Rod Davis from the Eagle Challenge.
Dickson finished third in this year's Congressional Cup with a 6-3 record. Graeme Woodroffe will helm the second boat, NZ-3. Woodroffe skippered Exador (Farr 40') in the 1985 Admirals Cup, winning the first inland race. Russell Coutts, Finn gold medalist in Los. Angeles, and Bruce Deegan join the after guard of Kiwi talent.
The fabric of the New Zealand effort came together when yacht designers from the other challengers opted to stay put with aluminum boats. The Kiwi's though, with their trio of lOR architects, quietly had fiberglass scantlings approved by Lloyds of London and built the first pair of glass' twelve’s.
The New Zealand Naval team comprises three of the best in lOR and maxi-boat design. Led by Bruce Farr, Ron Holland, and Laurie Davidson, the New Zealand challenge cornered the market in yacht fiberglass design and innovation. Farr's UBS Switzerland had a recent coup with a first to finish in the Whitbread Around the World Race. Holland's design, Colt Cars, found its way into Simon Le Bon's hands as English Drum, which" was third to finish in the Whitbread.
The approval for the building of fiberglass 12-Meter yachts took over five months as an inspector from Lloyds was present during all the phases of construction. The two new designer's expertise in 'glass, as most twelve’s, NZ-3 and NZ-5, were lofted and molded at McMullen and Wing Shipyard in Auckland, NZ
The stiff fiberglass hulls could give the Kiwi twelve’s sufficient boat speed advantage, with little bending and less structural stress on the hull than aluminum 12-Meters.
The New Zealand advantage comes with their designer’s expertise in fiberglass construction.
The fabric of the New Zealand effort came together when yacht designers from the other challengers opted to stay put with aluminum boats. The Kiwi's though, with their trio of lOR architects, quietly had fiberglass scantlings approved by Lloyds of London and built the first pair of glass' twelve’s.
The New Zealand Naval team comprises three of the best in lOR and maxi-boat design. Led by Bruce Farr, Ron Holland, and Laurie Davidson, the New Zealand challenge cornered the market in yacht fiberglass design and innovation. Farr's UBS Switzerland had a recent coup with a first to finish in the Whitbread Around the World Race. Holland's design, Colt Cars, found its way into Simon Le Bon's hands as English Drum, which" was third to finish in the Whitbread.
The approval for the building of fiberglass 12-Meter yachts took over five months as an inspector from Lloyds was present during all the phases of construction. The two new designer's expertise in 'glass, as most twelve’s, NZ-3 and NZ-5, were lofted and molded at McMullen and Wing Shipyard in Auckland, NZ
The stiff fiberglass hulls could give the Kiwi twelve’s sufficient boat speed advantage, with little bending and less structural stress on the hull than aluminum 12-Meters.
The New Zealand advantage comes with their designer’s expertise in fiberglass construction.
The Kiwi’s were able to pop their first 2 boats out of the virtually the same mold simultaneously. The fiberglass yachts have aluminum space frames in order to handle the weight of the keel and the rigging loads. In order to construct fiberglass 12-Meters, the design team had to maintain equilibrium of weight balance to aluminum.
Guidelines set by the IYRU specify that there must be no weight advantage in materials used in construction.
Guidelines set by the IYRU specify that there must be no weight advantage in materials used in construction.
The rulebook also forbids the use of exotic materials, such as carbon or Kevlar fibers. The hulls have been laminated with glass fiber resins, which will eliminate the need for oil canning the surface, unlike conventional aluminum, that requires constant attention to keep the plates from buckling in the Indian Ocean chop off Fremantle.
"I went to bed pissed. I woke up pissed; I was pissed this afternoon and now I'm damned pissed, and if he (Blackaller) thinks I'm going to bring my new boat here, he can forget it! " Buddy Melges
Heart of America is on its way to....Santa Cruz.
The Chicago Yacht club christened its new 12-meter yacht Heart of America in Chicago, Illinois on May, 30, as five of the six American challenges have built and launched state of the art boats. Mrs. Jayne Thompson, wife of Illinois Governor, "Big Jim" Thompson, performed the christening honors at Pioneer Court.
Unfortunately, the glistening new twelve meter will not be coming up to train on San Francisco Bay with USA, instead US 51 will head south to Santa Cruz. Politics, delays and secrecy will keep the revolutionary new boat from the St Francis Yacht Club up here and they will not be facing off against Heart of America.
Unfortunately, the glistening new twelve meter will not be coming up to train on San Francisco Bay with USA, instead US 51 will head south to Santa Cruz. Politics, delays and secrecy will keep the revolutionary new boat from the St Francis Yacht Club up here and they will not be facing off against Heart of America.
Heart of America spent its winter and spring months sailing in San Francisco Bay with USA from the Golden Gate Challenge, and Canada 2 from the Secret Cove YC in Victoria, BC. Led by skipper Buddy Melges from Lake Geneva, WI, the Heart of America draw a large part of its crew from sailing communities on the Great Lakes.
Melges, "the Wizard of Zenda", is a two-time Olympic medalist, capturing a bronze in the Flying Dutchman Class in 1964 and a Gold Medal in the 1972 Olympics in the Soling Class. Melges was once considered a candidate to skipper the ill-fated Mariner 12-Meter in 1974, but “Wizard” probably caught a break when Ted Turner was named as the team’s helmsman.
The Heart of America has suffered some after guard after shocks with the defections of Gary Jobson and Charlie Scott. Jobson was serving as tactician, a capacity he held with Ted Turner on Courageous in 1977-80. Jobson left the challenge in May to join ESPN's America's Cup Network team as an analyst. Scott, SORC winner on Smiles in 1985, has not been active on Clipper since he left to pursue his business interests in Florida. The reality is that the defections are largely superficial and should not affect team symmetry.
Clipper had a very successful spring in San Francisco, sparring with both USA and Canada 2. The series with USA climaxed in April with an electric day of sailing that produced starting line collisions, tempers flaring, and ended with both sides claiming victory.
In typical Melges fashion, he stated afterwards: "I went to bed pissed. I woke up pissed; I was pissed this afternoon and now I'm damned pissed, and if he (Blackaller) thinks I'm going to bring my new boat here, he can forget it! "
Even though Melges loves this kind of action, true to his word, Heart of America will not be coming to the Bay Area. Rather, she will be spending the summer in Santa Cruz, with Canada 2, True North, and possibly Eagle.
"The highlight of the San Francisco training regatta was the fact that we were able to make a six-year-old boat (Clipper) go as fast as the state of the art 12-Meter (USA) that Blackaller was racing," Melges said.
Heart of America will arrive in Santa Cruz on June 10. The new boat was designed by Eric Schlageter, Scott Graham, and James Gretzky. Noted lOR designer German Frers was associated with the syndicate until doubts arose over his green card status. Frers is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Heart of America is basically a Schlageter boat, but no one would dispute that there is some Frers in there somewhere.
Heart of America has followed the lead set by New Zealand, Courageous, Italia, and Eagle by dropping the keel" skirt and displaying the winged-keel. The Heart of America will be shipped down to Fremantle, WA in August. The crew of Heart of America, along with the crew from Canada 2, will return to Lake Michigan in August and sail Clipper against Defender.
Defender was finally released to the syndicate for training purposes after a long drawn out court battle with People-to-People Sports Inc. and the Courageous Syndicate.
In order for the Heart of America to be eligible for competition for the America's Cup, it was necessary for Chicago to be declared an 'arm of the sea'. According to the deed of gift to the New York YC in 1887, challenging yacht clubs must "hold their regattas on the sea or an arm of the sea."
The Heart of America maintained that Chicago is an international seaport and that the Marine Act of 1970 established that the Great Lakes are the fourth seacoast of the United States. Precedent was also set during the America's Cup matches of 1876 and 1881 when yacht clubs from Canada competed for the Cup.
In 1876, the Royal Canadian YC in Toronto, Ontario challenged with Countess of Dufferin. Countess was crushed in two races by Madeleine. In 1881, the Bay of Quinte YC in Belleville, Ontario challenged the New York YC with Atalanta. She was also soundly crushed by the defender Mischief. The pathetic Canadian challenges led to the 'arm of the sea' ruling of 1887 and the deed was never challenged until the Chicago YC did in 1984.
Melges, "the Wizard of Zenda", is a two-time Olympic medalist, capturing a bronze in the Flying Dutchman Class in 1964 and a Gold Medal in the 1972 Olympics in the Soling Class. Melges was once considered a candidate to skipper the ill-fated Mariner 12-Meter in 1974, but “Wizard” probably caught a break when Ted Turner was named as the team’s helmsman.
The Heart of America has suffered some after guard after shocks with the defections of Gary Jobson and Charlie Scott. Jobson was serving as tactician, a capacity he held with Ted Turner on Courageous in 1977-80. Jobson left the challenge in May to join ESPN's America's Cup Network team as an analyst. Scott, SORC winner on Smiles in 1985, has not been active on Clipper since he left to pursue his business interests in Florida. The reality is that the defections are largely superficial and should not affect team symmetry.
Clipper had a very successful spring in San Francisco, sparring with both USA and Canada 2. The series with USA climaxed in April with an electric day of sailing that produced starting line collisions, tempers flaring, and ended with both sides claiming victory.
In typical Melges fashion, he stated afterwards: "I went to bed pissed. I woke up pissed; I was pissed this afternoon and now I'm damned pissed, and if he (Blackaller) thinks I'm going to bring my new boat here, he can forget it! "
Even though Melges loves this kind of action, true to his word, Heart of America will not be coming to the Bay Area. Rather, she will be spending the summer in Santa Cruz, with Canada 2, True North, and possibly Eagle.
"The highlight of the San Francisco training regatta was the fact that we were able to make a six-year-old boat (Clipper) go as fast as the state of the art 12-Meter (USA) that Blackaller was racing," Melges said.
Heart of America will arrive in Santa Cruz on June 10. The new boat was designed by Eric Schlageter, Scott Graham, and James Gretzky. Noted lOR designer German Frers was associated with the syndicate until doubts arose over his green card status. Frers is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Heart of America is basically a Schlageter boat, but no one would dispute that there is some Frers in there somewhere.
Heart of America has followed the lead set by New Zealand, Courageous, Italia, and Eagle by dropping the keel" skirt and displaying the winged-keel. The Heart of America will be shipped down to Fremantle, WA in August. The crew of Heart of America, along with the crew from Canada 2, will return to Lake Michigan in August and sail Clipper against Defender.
Defender was finally released to the syndicate for training purposes after a long drawn out court battle with People-to-People Sports Inc. and the Courageous Syndicate.
In order for the Heart of America to be eligible for competition for the America's Cup, it was necessary for Chicago to be declared an 'arm of the sea'. According to the deed of gift to the New York YC in 1887, challenging yacht clubs must "hold their regattas on the sea or an arm of the sea."
The Heart of America maintained that Chicago is an international seaport and that the Marine Act of 1970 established that the Great Lakes are the fourth seacoast of the United States. Precedent was also set during the America's Cup matches of 1876 and 1881 when yacht clubs from Canada competed for the Cup.
In 1876, the Royal Canadian YC in Toronto, Ontario challenged with Countess of Dufferin. Countess was crushed in two races by Madeleine. In 1881, the Bay of Quinte YC in Belleville, Ontario challenged the New York YC with Atalanta. She was also soundly crushed by the defender Mischief. The pathetic Canadian challenges led to the 'arm of the sea' ruling of 1887 and the deed was never challenged until the Chicago YC did in 1984.
“The other US Challengers are only kidding themselves!” Tom Ehman
America 2, downunder and back, again.
While the competition trains at home, America 2, representing the NYYC continues to hone their skills out on the Indian Ocean with sister 12-Meter yachts US 42 “Lego” and US 44. America ll has completed its second “Australian” summer of sailing on the ‘Cup waters. But, why would America 2 take so much time to be amongst the 'roos and flies down under?
Simple, that is where the Cup course is and as Operations Manager Arthur Wullschleger so succinctly puts it, "I feel it's important to get your ass down there and see what its like!”
America 2 Executive Director, Tom Ehman reinforces that notion saying, “Challengers who have not sailed in Australia as yet are only kidding themselves." The team will christen its new boat US 46 in Newport, Rhode Island on May 16. Ehman told me that US 46 is "practically done," and the builders, Williams and Manchester, will have her out of the box and ready, as usual.” The festivities will take place on Goat Island for third and final boat built for the challenge.
US 46 was designed by Bill Langan, in conjunction with NASA and research scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MlT). US 46 will have 3 weeks to test in Newport before being shipped to Fremantle on June 6, she may sail informally against Heart of America "if it can be worked out." said Ehman.
HOA’s new boat US 51 is under construction at Merrifield Roberts in Bristol, Rhode Island. The challenge representing the Chicago Yacht Club has been experiencing some labor difficulties and the launch may be delayed, preventing it from stretching its legs against America 2, before being shipped west to sail against the Canadians in Santa Cruz, California. Plans to race the revolutionary new boat from the St Francis Yacht Club are doubtful at best.
US 46 and the America 2 crew will be back in ‘Freo and start sailing by August I. The radical design from Sparkman and Stephens will initially test against US 42, the “Lego" boat which is the syndicate’s primary yardstick.
Langan is the chief designer at S&S in New York. He was the project manager for Freedom in 1980. Langan designed Spirit of America for Dennis Conner in 1982 and was responsible for Courageous successful design modifications in 1983.
America 2 christened its first twelve US 42 the "Lego" boat in Kings Point, NY on August 31, 1984, more than a year ahead of Stars and Stripes from Sail America.
"Lego" was nicknamed because of 42's designed-in ability 10 change configurations quickly and efficiently. "With the lego boat," said Langan, "we were able to make gross changes to the boat, ranging from the conventional to radical."
"Lego US 42 has good boat speed in a variety of weather conditions," Ehman said. America 2 is reported to be the proud owners of seven winged keels, with an eighth on the way, which prompted skipper John Kolius to say: "we may be the biggest importer of lead in Australia."
One of America 2’s winged keel shapes has been dubbed the "Mustang" and. according to reports. US 42 carries the widest wings in the West. "We have a better boat than we expected in US 42," Ehman said. "At first we thought we had a trial horse on our hands."
America 2's second twelve, US 44, is more of a mystery. She has been kept out of the shooting matches with the other challengers. America 2 competed with US 42 in the Perth World Championships. Last summer, in a rare public performance during the Cadillac Cup, there was no doubt that US 44 was the quick turn champ of the East Coast.
US 44 is more of a one-design concept, though inter changeable, it takes up to three days to change keels on her. "US 44 has fulfilled the syndicate's expectations and more," Ehman said. "We are absolutely thrilled with 44 at this point. US 46 will continue to be an improvement based on data received from the first two boats."
America 2 recently wrapped up its second training season in Western Australia. With the first round-robin series set to start on October 5, 1986, America 2's crew has spent more time in Australian waters than any of the other challengers. There is much debate on whether America·2 may have spent too much time training in the demanding waters off Fremantle.
According to USA skipper and America's Cup veteran Tom Blackaller, “America 2's crew is under intense pressure to win the America's Cup back for the New York Yacht Club and I would not want to be part of their program," Blackaller said. "There is no way that America 2's crew will be able to peak on time once the trials get underway.
Physical conditioning of the crew and the boat's ability to withstand the elements day in and day out will be the key to winning or defending the America's Cup.
Sailing off the Western Australian Coast in a 12-Meter, the crew not only get saltwater in the face, but they are served with live fish as well. "Doing circles in 30-knot winds, there's stuff flying everywhere," says Kolius. "Water, wires, sails, it's like being in combat!"
Kolius, 34, is the Texas sail maker who optimized Courageous' performance in 1983, before being edged out by Liberty in the Defense finals. Kolius resigned as skipper last year, citing "syndicate politics" at that time. He returned to join America 2's program on the advent of their second Australian "summer". Kolius, mainsheet-trimmer Tom McGlaughlin, and tactician John Bertrand, from Sausalito, CA comprise the after guard onboard America 2.
America 2 placed third in the 12-Meter Worlds. Sailing with US 42, Kolius and Co. have knocked off Kookaburra in an unofficial series, and have sailed against Azzurra. Victory 83, and French Kiss while in Australia. During the Worlds, Alan Bond's Defense Limited 87 boats, Australia 2 and 3, spent a good deal of time shadow boxing with US 42.
Ehman told me that America 2 still needs to raise $5 million. "The Australian dollar is getting stronger and it has forced us to revise our budge." America 2's executive board met last week about joining the Americans, which is an umbrella fundraising group designed to create support for the American effort in Australia.
Five of the six American challenges have joined the Americans. The chairman of the group is Bob Scott of the Golden Gate Challenge in San Francisco. The Americans' goal is to entice corporate support that has been reluctant to back a regional effort. The funds raised would be equally divided among the syndicates.
America 2's board has decided not to join. “ We have legal, contractual and moral obligations to our corporate sponsors," said Ehman. "We're not trying to shoot it down," he said, "but it was an America 2 Syndicate decision, not the New York Yacht Club's"
"In fact the NYYC never look a position on the matter," said Ehman, adding that two years ago it would have been a great idea, but now it's "too little, too late."
"There is no way that some of these groups are going to be competitive," said Ehman. “And all they're going to do is hurt the rest of us and the chance of bringing the America's Cup back to the United States."
America 2 has raised more than $10 million, and Ehman is satisfied that the boat, crew and organization has a substantial edge. America 2's corporate sponsors include Newsweek, Cadillac and Amway.
US 46 was designed by Bill Langan, in conjunction with NASA and research scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MlT). US 46 will have 3 weeks to test in Newport before being shipped to Fremantle on June 6, she may sail informally against Heart of America "if it can be worked out." said Ehman.
HOA’s new boat US 51 is under construction at Merrifield Roberts in Bristol, Rhode Island. The challenge representing the Chicago Yacht Club has been experiencing some labor difficulties and the launch may be delayed, preventing it from stretching its legs against America 2, before being shipped west to sail against the Canadians in Santa Cruz, California. Plans to race the revolutionary new boat from the St Francis Yacht Club are doubtful at best.
US 46 and the America 2 crew will be back in ‘Freo and start sailing by August I. The radical design from Sparkman and Stephens will initially test against US 42, the “Lego" boat which is the syndicate’s primary yardstick.
Langan is the chief designer at S&S in New York. He was the project manager for Freedom in 1980. Langan designed Spirit of America for Dennis Conner in 1982 and was responsible for Courageous successful design modifications in 1983.
America 2 christened its first twelve US 42 the "Lego" boat in Kings Point, NY on August 31, 1984, more than a year ahead of Stars and Stripes from Sail America.
"Lego" was nicknamed because of 42's designed-in ability 10 change configurations quickly and efficiently. "With the lego boat," said Langan, "we were able to make gross changes to the boat, ranging from the conventional to radical."
"Lego US 42 has good boat speed in a variety of weather conditions," Ehman said. America 2 is reported to be the proud owners of seven winged keels, with an eighth on the way, which prompted skipper John Kolius to say: "we may be the biggest importer of lead in Australia."
One of America 2’s winged keel shapes has been dubbed the "Mustang" and. according to reports. US 42 carries the widest wings in the West. "We have a better boat than we expected in US 42," Ehman said. "At first we thought we had a trial horse on our hands."
America 2's second twelve, US 44, is more of a mystery. She has been kept out of the shooting matches with the other challengers. America 2 competed with US 42 in the Perth World Championships. Last summer, in a rare public performance during the Cadillac Cup, there was no doubt that US 44 was the quick turn champ of the East Coast.
US 44 is more of a one-design concept, though inter changeable, it takes up to three days to change keels on her. "US 44 has fulfilled the syndicate's expectations and more," Ehman said. "We are absolutely thrilled with 44 at this point. US 46 will continue to be an improvement based on data received from the first two boats."
America 2 recently wrapped up its second training season in Western Australia. With the first round-robin series set to start on October 5, 1986, America 2's crew has spent more time in Australian waters than any of the other challengers. There is much debate on whether America·2 may have spent too much time training in the demanding waters off Fremantle.
According to USA skipper and America's Cup veteran Tom Blackaller, “America 2's crew is under intense pressure to win the America's Cup back for the New York Yacht Club and I would not want to be part of their program," Blackaller said. "There is no way that America 2's crew will be able to peak on time once the trials get underway.
Physical conditioning of the crew and the boat's ability to withstand the elements day in and day out will be the key to winning or defending the America's Cup.
Sailing off the Western Australian Coast in a 12-Meter, the crew not only get saltwater in the face, but they are served with live fish as well. "Doing circles in 30-knot winds, there's stuff flying everywhere," says Kolius. "Water, wires, sails, it's like being in combat!"
Kolius, 34, is the Texas sail maker who optimized Courageous' performance in 1983, before being edged out by Liberty in the Defense finals. Kolius resigned as skipper last year, citing "syndicate politics" at that time. He returned to join America 2's program on the advent of their second Australian "summer". Kolius, mainsheet-trimmer Tom McGlaughlin, and tactician John Bertrand, from Sausalito, CA comprise the after guard onboard America 2.
America 2 placed third in the 12-Meter Worlds. Sailing with US 42, Kolius and Co. have knocked off Kookaburra in an unofficial series, and have sailed against Azzurra. Victory 83, and French Kiss while in Australia. During the Worlds, Alan Bond's Defense Limited 87 boats, Australia 2 and 3, spent a good deal of time shadow boxing with US 42.
Ehman told me that America 2 still needs to raise $5 million. "The Australian dollar is getting stronger and it has forced us to revise our budge." America 2's executive board met last week about joining the Americans, which is an umbrella fundraising group designed to create support for the American effort in Australia.
Five of the six American challenges have joined the Americans. The chairman of the group is Bob Scott of the Golden Gate Challenge in San Francisco. The Americans' goal is to entice corporate support that has been reluctant to back a regional effort. The funds raised would be equally divided among the syndicates.
America 2's board has decided not to join. “ We have legal, contractual and moral obligations to our corporate sponsors," said Ehman. "We're not trying to shoot it down," he said, "but it was an America 2 Syndicate decision, not the New York Yacht Club's"
"In fact the NYYC never look a position on the matter," said Ehman, adding that two years ago it would have been a great idea, but now it's "too little, too late."
"There is no way that some of these groups are going to be competitive," said Ehman. “And all they're going to do is hurt the rest of us and the chance of bringing the America's Cup back to the United States."
America 2 has raised more than $10 million, and Ehman is satisfied that the boat, crew and organization has a substantial edge. America 2's corporate sponsors include Newsweek, Cadillac and Amway.
