1 My best shot! BOR-90 just passed us flying two hulls!
2 BMW ORACLE Racing - Team and Challenge presentation special event. I'm on the 'America'! Photo: Giles Martin-Raget
3 My lens is not wide enough to capture the ninety feet width of BOR-90 from that position. The new Hilton and the 'Pinapple ship' in the background.
4 From the press stand, accross the guest area to the yacht 'America".
5 Russel Coutts is introduced by Tom Ehman
6 The Aussie Jim Spithill, the helmsman for the Americas cup challenger, joins Russel Coutts at the media briefing.
7 .... pushing 50 kts ... wow, that is F-A-S-T! Mistakes can be catastrophic and could end the campaign.
8 I handed off my camera for this shot of me on BOR-90. The winches, on my left, will be eliminated and a motor will power the sail trimming hydraulically.
9 This part may look similar after the re-build but the power will not be muscels, but a motor ...
10 ... turning them hydraulically on button command!
11 185 feet is about 18 stories ....
12 ... here are 170+ feet of main sail bundled on the boom.
13 ... to be hoisted up to the top, where a crew member is making some adjustments. (It is also a long way DOWN!)
14 A look accross the BOR-90 "deck" to the yacht 'America'.
15 You see the center board in the foreground and the canted mast behind it ...
16 this is a similar shot that shows the forward cross member. All of this is of hi-tech, light weight, carbon fibre!
17 Looking from the center hull to the bow of the starboard hull.
18 This is the base of the mast, which is able to tilt, cant and pivot. By the sheer size, and shape, of it, it is used and works like a sail!
19 The ends of all these sheets (ropes) disappear into wells ...
20 avoid clutter and entanglement.
21 BOR-90 stern. Amazing how compact this huge sail stows!
22 Tom Ehman, the MC.
23 .... hi, Heinz :-)
24 Larry Ellison ...we built the fastest sailboat we knew how ....
25 ... and feel the venue at RAK might not be a safe place to hold AC-33. We might have to go back to court.
26 Russel Coutts tells us that he has the team and boat capable to win the cup! Handing off the helm to Jimmy, the next generation, is best for us.
27 Jimmy Spithill is confident and articulate, pushing the limits! The crew wears helmets and life vests for brisk breeze trials.
28 He projects his 'can do' attitude very well!
29 Harrison Ford: I'm not really a big sailor, but I am a pilot and love to fly ....
30 .... and this thing flies .....! Harrison Ford's casual presence did wonders for all the Junior Sailors from the local Yacht Clubs ...
31 .... ,including Coronado Yacht Club, who were able to meet him. It was the highlight for most of the kids I talked to. He has the MAGIC!
32 Larry Ellison, takes away Spithill's Champagne glass, teasing him, "you're not gonna drink and then drive my boat!"
33 He returned it for the toast! What about Russel?
34 Lining up for a team picture.
35 ... add the design and ground crew...
36 fit in the Junior sailors ...
37 I resisted to call out, "down in front".
38 Seating for the dignitaries ... their chairs were in the sun!
39 Hoisting the flag to fanfares.
40 The band starts to entertain us.
41 I could almost get the whole BOR-90 in the picture from the top of the press stand, which they removed while we were on the water.
42 The convention Center in the background behind the 'America'...
43 The crew and staff on the 'America' were outstanding and the women were friendly, outgoing, and easy on the eyes!
44 They certainly rolled out a lot of red, white and blue carpeting to cover the whole venue!
45 Jack Stutphen, the 92 year old Americas Cup Hall of Fame inductee, shares sailing memories!
46 Flag on the 'America'
47 Looking at BOR-90 from the 'America', dockout is approaching.
48 ... towed out ahead of us ...
49 Woody was a colorful presence during the "on water experience"
50 ..toward the open bay ...
51 .. ready to start the boat 'parade' ...
52 ... with all the folks from the dock and Joe's Crab shack waving goodby ...
53 ... the Harbor Police fire boats are starting their water jets ...
54 .. leading us out of the base ...
55 ... while the 'America' is assisted away from the dock ..
56 ... to follow BOR-90 ...
57 ... toward Point Loma ...
58 ... we would catch up with them ...
59 ... and then ...
60 ... play leap frog ...
61 .. give us another close look and some spray from the fire boat ...
62 ... as we passed them ...
63 and started to move ahead.
64 Its mast of 185 ft makes it too tall to sail under the bridge.
65 ... moving on ahead ...
66 ... of the water front hotels ...
67 ... quite an impressive view ...
68 ... now with the Midway coming into the frame ...
69 We powered this far and are now raising our sails.
70 Many were inspired to help raising the main sail!
71 San Diego Bay and the San Diego - Coronado bay Bridge, remember, BOR-90's 185 ft mast will not clear the center spans!
72 Enjoying the view, sun, breeze, food and beverages!
73 We are now under sail!
74 BOR-90 has the main sail up
75 ... as do we on the America...
76 ... they are approaching quickly ...
77 It was a pleasure for the guests aboard since there was no rush to the rail ..
78 ... or jockeying for position ...
79 ... to get a good photo.
80 ... but at this point you had to shoot quickly ...
81 to get them coming, broadside ...
82 ... and sailing away from us.
83 This is a few minutes later, you can see them approaching us under full sail now ....
84 ... looking out starboard and spotting USA-11 a former AC defender.
85 flying the port hull higher ...
86 ... and higher ...
87 ... wow, this thing is m-o-v-i-n-g ...
88 ... getting closer ...
89 ... and closer ...
90 ... quickly!
91 This is one of my best shots of the approaching BOR-90
92 This shot needed more mast and less water :-)
93
94
95
96
97 WOW!!!
98 A quick turn ...
99 Woody out in the ocean!
100 Sails are photogenic...
101 .... see!
102 Silver Strand and San Diego behind that ...
103 this is the only shot where I got the Hotel Del and BOR-90 in the same frame.
104 Naval Amphib base in background here ...
105 Woody getting into a Hotel Del shot.
106 The Hotel Del Coronado with the bridge.
107 We are sailing toward the channel
108 They did not "fill" the 'America', it was un-crowded with exceptional service. You can spot BOR-90 in tow behind us.
109 ... catching up ...
110 ... to play leap-frog ...
111 ... they are passing us returning ...
112 ... but we will catch ...
113 ... them again ...
114 ... later.
115 Harbor Island in the background ...
116 ... and as usual, not a cloud in the sky (in the afternoon :-)
117 what a great city we live in. (near:-)
118 It's very clear from this picture, no go under the bridge!
119 coming back in toward the dock ...
120 ... stern first ..
121 ... moving quite briskly ...
122 ... with a powerful support boat holding the bow line to slow down ...
123 ... and stop.
124 ... precisely!
125 . Lots of things to secure.
126 We are disembarking the 'America'
127 We were again allowed aboard.
128 Get the main sail's 170+ feet bundled ...
129 ... tied down ...
130 ... put under cover ...
131 ... ready for tomorrow. (Could it be replaced by a wing??)
132 work on the mast...
133 ... is not a job for acrophobics!
134 It's a long way up ...
135 ... and a long way down.
136 Looking across the basin to the new Hilton
137 Aboard BOR-90 looking toward the Hilton
138 'Deck', mast, dagger board & Convention Center
139 Baby on 'deck'!
140 Back at the 'Shack"!
141 Can you spot me? Photo: Giles Martin-Raget
142 17/08/2009 BMW ORACLE Racing - 90 ft Trimaran testings. Photo: Giles Martin-Raget
