I have noticed that NZL wins by much bigger margins than does ITA, so far.

Supposedly NZL, with their smaller foils, can make faster straight line speed. However, ITA is making better VMG and are thus sailing shorter courses, still at good speed.

segler said..
I have noticed that NZL wins by much bigger margins than does ITA, so far.

Supposedly NZL, with their smaller foils, can make faster straight line speed. However, ITA is making better VMG and are thus sailing shorter courses, still at good speed.

My read is, When italy are in front in the light wind the only reason NZ can't overtake is the dirty air. It looks to me NZ is basically equal or faster everywhere (one exception here is the early races ita were gaining in tacking, but I think NZ has that sorted now)

But in the light winds the dirty air cannot be overcome.

Be good to see some races in a consistent 12+

John340 said..

cald said..

segler said..
I have noticed that NZL wins by much bigger margins than does ITA, so far.

Supposedly NZL, with their smaller foils, can make faster straight line speed. However, ITA is making better VMG and are thus sailing shorter courses, still at good speed.

My read is, When italy are in front in the light wind the only reason NZ can't overtake is the dirty air. It looks to me NZ is basically equal or faster everywhere (one exception here is the early races ita were gaining in tacking, but I think NZ has that sorted now)

But in the light winds the dirty air cannot be overcome.

Be good to see some races in a consistent 12+

But half the race legs are downwind, where the leading boat suffers from dirty air from the trailing boat

No, not so much when the boats are going many times windspeed, the windshadow does not extend in front of the boat. The boats would still be leaving turbulent air behind them.

Edited to add - i would say a visual case of this yesterday when NZ gybed thru LRs turbulence and their own, resulting in splashdown

cald said..

No, not so much when the boats are going many times windspeed, the windshadow does not extend in front of the boat. The boats would still be leaving turbulent air behind them.

Edited to add - i would say a visual case of this yesterday when NZ gybed thru LRs turbulence and their own, resulting in splashdown

Why did they round up to windward so much during that gybe? Did they realize they were coming off the foil so thought they would have more sail across the wind?

thedoor said..

cald said..

No, not so much when the boats are going many times windspeed, the windshadow does not extend in front of the boat. The boats would still be leaving turbulent air behind them.

Edited to add - i would say a visual case of this yesterday when NZ gybed thru LRs turbulence and their own, resulting in splashdown

Why did they round up to windward so much during that gybe? Did they realize they were coming off the foil so thought they would have more sail across the wind?

I'd say so, later in the race all of the gybes were being exited across wind, get the apparent wind up and bear-off again...

Race 9 was the best race of the whole event. 6 lead changes. Those guys are duking it out. The squeeze by ITA to push NZL out away from gate at the bottom of the first downwind leg was masterful.

However, with everybody talking about better wind on the right side, including a potential left shift, I don't understand why ITA went left on the final upwind leg, while NZL stayed right and crushed it. I think that was a mistake by ITA.

segler said..
Race 7. Finally a pass!!! Finally!!!

Race 8. Yup, ya gotta have wind to fly. No wind, no fly. Both boats found that out. So did the committee when they shortened the course to 5 legs.

At the presser both skippers talked about "mistakes." Well, the only mistake somebody **MIGHT** have made is not reading the wind correctly. Otherwise, you can be a genius skipper, but without wind, not much you can do.

LR made mistakes with the tack that dropped them off the foils, it wasn't just bad luck, they actually entered under-speed - only slightly but what were they thinking, 2km ahead surely you stop pointing as high, build speed up above the minimum and increase your chances. I think they did something wrong with the foil drop as well- that's a bit more technical.

For all the talk about how slick their crew work is due to their time racing, LR do appear to be making more errors to me - but they are under more pressure as their boat is undoubtedly a touch slower

Well done by the kiwis definitely well deserved and had the faster boat in the end, nailed the last start too.
I hope they keep the class for the next one and hold it again sooner than the last gap. That te rehutai alone had more to give, couple more years of development now the boats would be a new level.

Shame we didn't see racing in 15+