The Hula... hoop.

[John B]

was our secret weapon in the classics regatta. we pointed it out to a tv crew, The Dicksons and pretty well anyone else in range of voice.
Must have been scary for em. It certainly helped when we closed out the gorgeous 1939 , 39ft Logan ARAMOANA.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid50/p2d85734f015e82f13bb99d9852d903d5/fca92b1d.jpg

[reddog]

OK John.I'll bite.Just how did you employ the hula hoop?Was it merely a psychological ploy or does it gather energy and focus it to your boat?
Loks like fine sailin'.We can only dream and wait.
Earl

[NormMessinger]

He ran rings around the competition, blue right past them....

[John B]

LOL Norm..
I dunno how it works Reddog, but then I don't know how the Team NZ hula works either so Yes I think you're right. It's a psychological advantage. Had us laughing fit to bust anyway and you know about happy ships........

[Concordia..41]

Ah yesssss - around these parts you'll occasionally see the Florida state bird - the plastic pink flamingo - gracing a bow.

http://flamingo.safeshopper.com/images/b40hrhxg.jpg

Permission to use the hoola hoop "plan" when such time finally arrives?

[John B]

Heh heh. but it's HULA... Hull Appendage...

I see today that they're running it for the cup so we'll find out on Sat if it and the other stuff is any good.
I have me own idea on what it does but everyone I speak to has another idea so......
Go Team NZ.

[Leon Steyns]

I like the comment Bruce Farr gave on the whole hula hype: looks like a big thing, but is actually a small design trade-off (goes for both boats).

Team New Zealand is betting on the downwind horse, while Alinghi opts for light winds and an upwind advantage (did you notice in the LVC finals how high they could point?!). I live in Europe, so I'd like the 2006 America's Cup in the Med. Go Alinghi!!! Sure hope the Kiwis don't have an SRB hidden in that looooooooong bulb... smile.gif :eek: tongue.gif :D :(

Greets, Leon Steyns.

[rbgarr]

I'd like to see the AC in the Med also, and run like Formula 1 teams, as Alinghi's owner proposes, should he win.

Nothing against NZ, but I'd just like to see different venues.

[John B]

I doubt if there would be a Kiwi Challenge if it went to the Med. I don't think there's that sort of $ in this country.
The Hula. Yes very interesting. 2 camps... 1 saying that it's a minor thing, the other saying it's a genuine technological breakthrough. I watched the boats being towed out last Saturday though, and I have to say they have a different hull wave than you'd expect..........

[Leon Steyns]

I wouldn't worry too much about the cash: SAP is a major IT company from Germany (that still makes money!). They'll be more than happy to take the Kiwi team to Europe.

I'm really looking forward to Saturday's race. Unrestricted by any technological knowledge, I'm in the 'lottafuzz'boutnothin'-camp. We'll see. If that SRB ignites on the final downwind run, it will forever change the definition of the word 'wake'... :eek: :D :cool: smile.gif

Greets, Leon Steyns.