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With all of the non-traditional sport focus on the Olympics, I nearly missed the news that the America’s Cup sailing competition was happening in Valencia Spain. The BMW Oracle team triumphed over the Alinghi team. That means the US boat beat the Swiss boat.
Part of my family comes from Newport, Rhode Island, so I’ve had an interest in the America’s Cup. The sailing race was based in Newport starting in 1851. Then in 1983, an Australian boat won the cup and took it down under.
In 1983 the Australians won by using a radical design in the hull of their boat. The Australia II used a winged keel. They also made extensive use of kevlar and carbon fiber.
The BMW Oracle Racing boat, USA 17, was also a radical design. It is a tirmaran that is nearly 90 feet across. It also uses a rigid sail wing instead of a sail. The wing is almost twice as big as the wing of a 747.
Congratulations to Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle Racing.
There is no news on where the next America’s Cup race will be held.
Sources:
- U.S. Yacht BMW Oracle takes back America’s Cup with 2-race sweep
- BMW Oracle Racing website
- USA 17 in Wikipedia
- Australia II in Wikipedia
- No Oracle announcement amid gaiety
- America’s Cup in Wikipedia
