Racing cars, airplanes and motorcycles are all dangerously overpowered also. Are those people also daft? Are all people that compete daft? What about 300 lb. football players colliding at full speed, are they daft? Sky divers?
The America's Cup has always been about pushing the envelope. This will be an awesome competition. I'll be watching from my yacht on the bay. There is nothing like watching one of these machines live, foiling, sailing faster than the wind.
I agree with the recommendations of the Regatta Director, especially the wind speed limit. The winds in "The Slot" can be above 30 knots in the summer.
It is supposed to be cutting edge, but it's supposed to be cutting edge with regard to technology, not stupidity and stubbornness.
All of the gee whiz stuff on display in the 72 foot boats was on display in the 45 footers. What's the point of these oversized, unwieldy craft? To exclude entrants who only have 5-10 million to spend?
If they went with an appropriately sized and powered boat like the AC 45 design, they wouldn't need this band-aid approach to safety, limiting competition to sailing to 20 knots of wind(!!!)
After a competitor was killed as a result of a capsize during training, the regatta director, in consultation with the competing teams, has come up with a list of 37 recommendations to be implemented to reduce the risk of injury and death during training and competition.
After reading this, I can only conclude that these people are somewhat daft in failing to realize (or ignoring) that these AC72 boats are dangerously overpowered, and that it will be extremely difficult to ensure safe competition, as any reasonable person would understand the concept of "safe".
Racing cars, airplanes and motorcycles are all dangerously overpowered also. Are those people also daft? Are all people that compete daft? What about 300 lb. football players colliding at full speed, are they daft? Sky divers?
The America's Cup has always been about pushing the envelope. This will be an awesome competition. I'll be watching from my yacht on the bay. There is nothing like watching one of these machines live, foiling, sailing faster than the wind.
I agree with the recommendations of the Regatta Director, especially the wind speed limit. The winds in "The Slot" can be above 30 knots in the summer.
Location: Still in the tunnel, looking for the light. Gender:
Posted:
Jun 25, 2013 - 3:33pm
aflanigan wrote:
After a competitor was killed as a result of a capsize during training, the regatta director, in consultation with the competing teams, has come up with a list of 37 recommendations to be implemented to reduce the risk of injury and death during training and competition.
After reading this, I can only conclude that these people are somewhat daft in failing to realize (or ignoring) that these AC72 boats are dangerously overpowered, and that it will be extremely difficult to ensure safe competition, as any reasonable person would understand the concept of "safe".
We-ell, shall give this a great deal of thought tomorrow, but it's bedtime for Bonzo me just now.
But just before I go, these boats are at the cutting edge, and people are willing to place themselves there.
After a competitor was killed as a result of a capsize during training, the regatta director, in consultation with the competing teams, has come up with a list of 37 recommendations to be implemented to reduce the risk of injury and death during training and competition.
After reading this, I can only conclude that these people are somewhat daft in failing to realize (or ignoring) that these AC72 boats are dangerously overpowered, and that it will be extremely difficult to ensure safe competition, as any reasonable person would understand the concept of "safe".
I've been witness to a few coast guard discussion around here. Lots of people in these waters assume that a) sail boats always have the right of way, and b) having sails on board makes you a sailboat despite the engine moving you along.
I wonder how many times inertia has yielded to this "right of way".
1) Very much so. And I'd hope they had their arses prosecuted, but I don't know how that panned out.
2) Hope you bought them, the Coasties, a drink,
3):a; Well, no, not always, especially where vessels are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre or are constrained by their draught, or any of the many, myriad reasons why this is not true.
3) b: Fuckwits.
4) Remember that the stand on vessel must do so, but, and I've done this a couple of times, the rules of the road that I recall say that the stand on vessel should stand on unless..
"The stand-on vessel shall maintain her course and speed, but she may take action to avoid collision if it becomes clear that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action, or when so close that collision can no longer be avoided by the actions of the give-way vessel alone. In a crossing situation, the stand-on vessel should avoid turning to port even if the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. These options for the stand-on vessel do not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligations under the rules."
I had the NO PORT TURN. EVER. drilled into me by the ex Cunard Skipper who took my humble HM Dept. Of Transport Boat Masters ticket exam. I passed.
I'm surprised stuff like this doesn't happen more often. Sometimes it's excusable, a lot of people don't realize how quickly a ship can bear down on you at sea. A friend of my sisters was sailing at nighit about 8 hours out of Hong Kong and had seen a huge ship sailing up behind him. Somehow he totally misjudged the situation and went down below thinking he was safe. Next thing he heard were three blasts of the horn at very close quarters and he saw the stern of the ship bearing towards him as the ship tried to bear off to avoid collision. He quickly bore off to port but not before he got uncomfortably close to the thrashing screws of the ship. They missed but it probably took a couple of years off his life.
Location: Still in the tunnel, looking for the light. Gender:
Posted:
Oct 18, 2012 - 6:07pm
islander wrote:
Lucky they weren't killed.
I've been witness to a few coast guard discussion around here. Lots of people in these waters assume that a) sail boats always have the right of way, and b) having sails on board makes you a sailboat despite the engine moving you along.
I frequently yield the right of way when I can't discern the intent of the other skipper. I'd rather be boating that filing insurance claims.
1) Very much so. And I'd hope they had their arses prosecuted, but I don't know how that panned out.
2) Hope you bought them, the Coasties, a drink,
3):a; Well, no, not always, especially where vessels are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre or are constrained by their draught, or any of the many, myriad reasons why this is not true.
3) b: Fuckwits.
4) Remember that the stand on vessel must do so, but, and I've done this a couple of times, the rules of the road that I recall say that the stand on vessel should stand on unless..
"The stand-on vessel shall maintain her course and speed, but she may take action to avoid collision if it becomes clear that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action, or when so close that collision can no longer be avoided by the actions of the give-way vessel alone. In a crossing situation, the stand-on vessel should avoid turning to port even if the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. These options for the stand-on vessel do not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligations under the rules."
I had the NO PORT TURN. EVER. drilled into me by the ex Cunard Skipper who took my humble HM Dept. Of Transport Boat Masters ticket exam. I passed.
And it didn't take me long to dig out this old favourite - these feckin idiots on the Solent, just a couple of hours in the Beemer from the City, have an awful combination of arrogant self-importance and a criminal lack of knowledge of the rule of the road.
The stand on vessel (the sodding great orange one) realised that some twat in in a sail boat was crossing him, so the sodding great vessel had to actually engage astern propulsion (hence the horn blowing three times to alert shipping as to his actions, not that the dickwads in the yacht would have known that). Heaven forbid that a fucking great ship carrying the very stuff that will power their BMW at some point in the future should interrupt their weekend sport.
And the commentators laughed it off. Grrrr.
*edit* There is a kind of cultural or folk memory that "steam gives way to sail".
Still does, but....
Lucky they weren't killed.
I've been witness to a few coast guard discussion around here. Lots of people in these waters assume that a) sail boats always have the right of way, and b) having sails on board makes you a sailboat despite the engine moving you along.
I frequently yield the right of way when I can't discern the intent of the other skipper. I'd rather be boating that filing insurance claims.
Location: Still in the tunnel, looking for the light. Gender:
Posted:
Oct 18, 2012 - 5:24pm
And it didn't take me long to dig out this old favourite - these feckin idiots on the Solent, just a couple of hours in the Beemer from the City, have an awful combination of arrogant self-importance and a criminal lack of knowledge of the rule of the road.
The stand on vessel (the sodding great orange one) realised that some twat in in a sail boat was crossing him, so the sodding great vessel had to actually engage astern propulsion (hence the horn blowing three times to alert shipping as to his actions, not that the dickwads in the yacht would have known that). Heaven forbid that a fucking great ship carrying the very stuff that will power their BMW at some point in the future should interrupt their weekend sport.
And the commentators laughed it off. Grrrr.
*edit* There is a kind of cultural or folk memory that "steam gives way to sail".
Bust Out Another Thousand! I grew up on the water and had boats well before old enough to drive cars. I learned enough to know that I never want another one!
< standard response > Therapy is $150/hr, Couples therapy is $250. No one ever caught a fish in therapy. < / standard response >
I had a shot at working for an estate of one of our local billionaires one time. It was very interesting. I ended up not getting the gig, but knew the guy who did. He quit after a couple years and told me that while it was cool to have access, the associated BS simply wasn't worth the impact on the rest of his life. I'd still give it another shot if it came around again though.
Bust Out Another Thousand! I grew up on the water and had boats well before old enough to drive cars. I learned enough to know that I never want another one!
ha, I was actually being facetious but, yes, you're right, this is colossally expensive research, that just might have a few accidental pay-offs. I am happy for all the techies and sailors who get to have a dream life out of it. It is also a huge boost to Auckland's local economy so I can't complain.
I had a shot at working for an estate of one of our local billionaires one time. It was very interesting. I ended up not getting the gig, but knew the guy who did. He quit after a couple years and told me that while it was cool to have access, the associated BS simply wasn't worth the impact on the rest of his life. I'd still give it another shot if it came around again though.
I have no complaints about the spending, just amazed at the results. I hadn't really even thought about it, but there are things that have come out of the programs. The chase boats get some especially cool tech - the newest ones can run at 40 knots on something like 100 liters / hour, and have a 500 mile range at 30 knots (I know that doesn't sound great, but for a power boat that is phenomenal).
ha, I was actually being facetious but, yes, you're right, this is colossally expensive research, that just might have a few accidental pay-offs. I am happy for all the techies and sailors who get to have a dream life out of it. It is also a huge boost to Auckland's local economy so I can't complain.
who knows what the technology is good for.. maybe one day we might be able to fly to space.
I have no complaints about the spending, just amazed at the results. I hadn't really even thought about it, but there are things that have come out of the programs. The chase boats get some especially cool tech - the newest ones can run at 40 knots on something like 100 liters / hour, and have a 500 mile range at 30 knots (I know that doesn't sound great, but for a power boat that is phenomenal).
I grew up on the water and had boats well before old enough to drive cars. I learned enough to know that I never want another one!