Russell Coutts capsizes an Oracle AC45 in San Francisco Bay
Four-time America's Cup winner, Russell Coutts has capsized an AC45 wingsail catamaran during a practice session in San Francisco Bay.…
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Russell Coutts, head of Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing and four times winner of the America's Cup, capsized one of the new AC45 wingsail catamarans in San Franciso Bay on Monday.
Coutts was at the helm during a series of practice starts organised as part of a media presentation in the lead up to the announcement on Wednesday 15th June of the paid-up entries for the 2013 America's Cup. Coutts was bearing off in a pre-start when the AC45 pitchpoled at 22 knots. The AC45 took about 10 minutes to right with minimal damage to the wingsail, apart from a hole in the fabric skin where Coutts fell.
Oracle Racing.com reported:
"After the media sail the team’s two crews, led by helmsmen James Spithill and Russell Coutts, engaged in exhibition racing run by America’s Cup Principal Race Officer John Craig. He set a course that featured a reaching start to a turning mark around which the crews unfurled the gennakers and turned downwind. After rounding the leeward mark the two crews sailed up to a windward mark before another blasting run downwind and a final beat to the finish. The race lasted no more than 20 minutes. The good times were dampened in the second pre-start, when ORACLE Racing Boat No. 5, helmed by Coutts, capsized during the pre-start. In action similar to Friday, both bows buried and the boat went nearly vertical before capsizing to starboard.
"We got caught in the pre-start at the wrong angle and paid the price," said Coutts, who fell through the lower part of the front element of the wingsail. "The boats are spectacular, hard to sail. They’re gonna test the best sailors in the world. Luckily I had the crash helmet on.'"
During the incident crewman Shannon Falcone injured his ribs. "It was all in slow motion," said Falcone, one of the strongest members of the team. "I didn’t think it was going to go all the way over." Falcone walked under his own power to an ambulance waiting shoreside and was taken to the hospital for a precautionary X-ray.
"I would’ve preferred it didn’t happen, but it’s all learning," Coutts said. "Frankly, I’ve got to see these sort of things to learn how hard to push it and what not to do. It’s lots of learning for me."
The AC45's, scaled down one-design versions of the AC72's that will be used in the America's Cup, have proved pretty spectacular on the water as part of major changes to America's Cup racing that will include shorter races and improved TV coverage.
The AC72's, which will all be custom designed and built by the Challengers and Defenders, will have a wingsail approximately twice the height and just over three times the wing sail area of the one-design AC45's.
As the boats capsize, the crews, all wearing helmets, can usually hang on to the trampoline. The main danger comes from the impact of the wingmast hitting the water, with the sudden shock load breaking their hold and then being catapulted into the wingmast below. On the AC45's this is only from around seven metres above the water. On the AC72's the height of the fall is 14 metres and could end up being much more dangerous.
There have already been several capsizes in Auckland during trials in March and April this year, including the Swedish team Artemis Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand, demonstrating that these new catamarans are challenging to sail, even by the very best crews in the world. In most cases their has been only minor damage to the wing sail.
AC Teams
The AC45 demonstration sailing is part of the build-up to Wednesday's 15th June announcement of the lineup of paid entries for the 2013 America's Cup. Since the April 1st announcement of 14 entries, there has been much speculation on just how many treams will be able to raise the necessary funds of at least $40 million to get to the start line in 2013. The Italian Challenger of Record, Mascalzone Latino syndicate led by Vincenzo Onorato was one of the surprise drop outs, with Onorato, owner of the Moby Ferry Lines citing lack of funds.
Since Onorato's departure, America's Cup Management have changed the Protocol to reduce the cost of entry. The original performance bonds of two payments of $1.5million were reduced to $200,000 and $800,000. That first payment was due on 30 April and missed by at least one team. Now, the only financial requirement is to pay an entry fee for the World Series of $100,000 by 1 August 2011 and an Entry Fee of $200,000 by 1 June 2012 for the America’s Cup. The AC45 circuit which starts in Cascais, Portulgal 6-14 August and continues in Plymouth, UK 10-18th September.
Confirmed entries, in addition to the Defender Oracle Racing, include Emirates Team New Zealand and Swedish Artemis Racing Team who have become the new Challenger of Record. Other teams expected are the White Tiger from Korea, rumoured to be sailing with Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams on the helm, China Team with mulithull expert Mitch Booth, the Italian Venezia Challenge with Austrailian Torvay Mirsky on the helm and Loick and Bruno Peyron's Energy Team from France. Less certain are Team Australia, two further French teams including Aleph-Equipe and the German and Canadian entries.
JH
Related Links
America's Cup Website
Coutts was at the helm during a series of practice starts organised as part of a media presentation in the lead up to the announcement on Wednesday 15th June of the paid-up entries for the 2013 America's Cup. Coutts was bearing off in a pre-start when the AC45 pitchpoled at 22 knots. The AC45 took about 10 minutes to right with minimal damage to the wingsail, apart from a hole in the fabric skin where Coutts fell.
Oracle Racing.com reported:
"After the media sail the team’s two crews, led by helmsmen James Spithill and Russell Coutts, engaged in exhibition racing run by America’s Cup Principal Race Officer John Craig. He set a course that featured a reaching start to a turning mark around which the crews unfurled the gennakers and turned downwind. After rounding the leeward mark the two crews sailed up to a windward mark before another blasting run downwind and a final beat to the finish. The race lasted no more than 20 minutes. The good times were dampened in the second pre-start, when ORACLE Racing Boat No. 5, helmed by Coutts, capsized during the pre-start. In action similar to Friday, both bows buried and the boat went nearly vertical before capsizing to starboard.
"We got caught in the pre-start at the wrong angle and paid the price," said Coutts, who fell through the lower part of the front element of the wingsail. "The boats are spectacular, hard to sail. They’re gonna test the best sailors in the world. Luckily I had the crash helmet on.'"
During the incident crewman Shannon Falcone injured his ribs. "It was all in slow motion," said Falcone, one of the strongest members of the team. "I didn’t think it was going to go all the way over." Falcone walked under his own power to an ambulance waiting shoreside and was taken to the hospital for a precautionary X-ray.
"I would’ve preferred it didn’t happen, but it’s all learning," Coutts said. "Frankly, I’ve got to see these sort of things to learn how hard to push it and what not to do. It’s lots of learning for me."
The AC45's, scaled down one-design versions of the AC72's that will be used in the America's Cup, have proved pretty spectacular on the water as part of major changes to America's Cup racing that will include shorter races and improved TV coverage.
The AC72's, which will all be custom designed and built by the Challengers and Defenders, will have a wingsail approximately twice the height and just over three times the wing sail area of the one-design AC45's.
As the boats capsize, the crews, all wearing helmets, can usually hang on to the trampoline. The main danger comes from the impact of the wingmast hitting the water, with the sudden shock load breaking their hold and then being catapulted into the wingmast below. On the AC45's this is only from around seven metres above the water. On the AC72's the height of the fall is 14 metres and could end up being much more dangerous.
There have already been several capsizes in Auckland during trials in March and April this year, including the Swedish team Artemis Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand, demonstrating that these new catamarans are challenging to sail, even by the very best crews in the world. In most cases their has been only minor damage to the wing sail.
All images courtesy of Gilles Martin-Raget
AC Teams
The AC45 demonstration sailing is part of the build-up to Wednesday's 15th June announcement of the lineup of paid entries for the 2013 America's Cup. Since the April 1st announcement of 14 entries, there has been much speculation on just how many treams will be able to raise the necessary funds of at least $40 million to get to the start line in 2013. The Italian Challenger of Record, Mascalzone Latino syndicate led by Vincenzo Onorato was one of the surprise drop outs, with Onorato, owner of the Moby Ferry Lines citing lack of funds.
Since Onorato's departure, America's Cup Management have changed the Protocol to reduce the cost of entry. The original performance bonds of two payments of $1.5million were reduced to $200,000 and $800,000. That first payment was due on 30 April and missed by at least one team. Now, the only financial requirement is to pay an entry fee for the World Series of $100,000 by 1 August 2011 and an Entry Fee of $200,000 by 1 June 2012 for the America’s Cup. The AC45 circuit which starts in Cascais, Portulgal 6-14 August and continues in Plymouth, UK 10-18th September.
Confirmed entries, in addition to the Defender Oracle Racing, include Emirates Team New Zealand and Swedish Artemis Racing Team who have become the new Challenger of Record. Other teams expected are the White Tiger from Korea, rumoured to be sailing with Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams on the helm, China Team with mulithull expert Mitch Booth, the Italian Venezia Challenge with Austrailian Torvay Mirsky on the helm and Loick and Bruno Peyron's Energy Team from France. Less certain are Team Australia, two further French teams including Aleph-Equipe and the German and Canadian entries.
JH
Related Links
America's Cup Website
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