Maintenance on BOR90's wing-sail mast. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
by Peter Rusch
BMW ORACLE Racing has finished its final testing phase in San Diego as the team prepares for the 33rd America’s Cup in February.
BOR 90's reflection in the water. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
This final session of sea trials on the BOR 90, with its new, revolutionary wing sail, was very successful. The wing came out of the boat on Saturday morning, before the BOR 90 was lifted from the water and prepared for shipping to the venue for the Match.
Maintenance on BOR90's wing-sail mast. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
“We’re in the home stretch now,” said helmsman James Spithill (AUS). “With the Match scheduled to begin in just over two months time, every hour we’ve spent sailing in this last session has been of incredible value to us. The wing sail has been a powerful addition to the boat and we’ve used this time on the water to learn about what it can do.”
Maintenance on BOR90's wing-sail mast. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
The BOR 90 is a cutting-edge trimaran, built using the very latest in technology and materials. Launched in September 2008, it has undergone three major modifications as the team continues to make refinements based on its full-scale testing programme.
Helmsman's position on BOR90. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
Earlier this month, the traditional rig combination of a mast and soft sail was replaced with a wing sail – the largest of its kind ever built. Testing quickly revealed the wing was very efficient and made the boat much more manoeuvrable than it had been in earlier configurations.
Wing-sail mast at sunset. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
Now, the team is scheduled to pack up its San Diego base and return to Valencia, Spain, where it was based for the 32nd America’s Cup.
The wing-sail mast under cover. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
BMW ORACLE Racing is preparing to meet Alinghi in the 33rd America’s Cup Match beginning on February 8, 2010.
BMW ORACLE Racing
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