AC45 Capsize Steals the Show

June 13, 2011

Although today's America's Cup 34 media event concentrated on the AC45s and the ongoing practice racing (and pitchpoling), we learned a little more about the big sister AC72. There is something to be said about the low key Golden Gate YC affairs that make this America's Cup more like a local "Let's have fun" event than the old stuffy, boring ones of the past, but they probably underestimated the full effect of the Bay and its trademark summer northwesterly, and will have an interesting time trying to race 72-ft cats successfully.

Left to right: Oracle helmsman James Spithill, CEO Russell Coutts, Tactician John Kostecki, designer Kurt Jordan, and design executive Dirk Kramers. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Russell Coutts mentioned the impact that 25 knots of wind will bring to the game: "The short courses and fast boats will create a lot of passing opportunities. One mistake and it's over - the other boat will be miles ahead."

The consensus from the sailors and designers was that the best boat may be the one you can keep under control. Dirk Kramers on the Oracle design team said, "We need to make our boat a user-friendly package. The AC72s will get around the course so fast that crew decisions have to be done quickly and easily."

Stan Honey (left) set up the judging system. He said it was "complicated." ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Coutts thinks the all the boats will be very similar. "Its going to be the little tweaks that makes the difference." This may be the most interesting America's Cup yet, and it won't just be because of the boats. San Francisco Bay may end up being more of a rock star then the sailors. "I like it because of the strong winds and obstacles. This will be a Freemantle plus," said Coutts as he went off to show the press folks a glimpse of the future. And the bottom of the boat.

Members of the press gathered around the boats at the dock. A lucky few went for a pre-race spin, and some went out on America to view the racing. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Media activities took up most of the day, but racing finally got underway after 1400 hours. Boats came from several yacht clubs to help out, including Richmond, San Francisco and Corinthian. Some of them were used as marks. The races were kept short - just 15 minutes - with short legs. The intention is to keep the boats close together because it looks better on TV. SFYC's Victory and Golden Retriever served as the start line; from there the boats reached up to the X buoy off GGYC, where another SFYC boat, Martin, was stationed. The downwind gate was positioned off Aquatic Park. From there, the boats raced back to a finish at X.

Oracle's two AC45s got in one practice race today. ©2011 Gilles Martin-Raget/www.oracleracing.com

Before the second race could start, one of the cats pitch-poled, and a crewman fell through the wing sail, tearing a hole in it. Some of the crew members were picked up by their well-prepared chase boat. Another crewman was put onto a fireboat and rushed to shore where medics decided to send him to the hospital for X-rays, in case of broken ribs. According to the America's Cup blog, the free-falling, wing-piercing crewman was none other than helmsman Russell Coutts himself, and his injured team member was Shannon Falcome, who suffered dislocated rib cartilage, but no fractures.

Four crewmen who remained with the capsized cat were able to right it. See YouTube for an excellent video of the capsize and retrieval.

Racing continues tomorrow; a bigger press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, when the teams will be announced.