03.09.2008
CET
Sea trials continue in Anacortes
It’s early days with the new BMW ORACLE Racing 90 but first impressions are positive from the sailors who have been sea-trialing the new trimaran on Puget Sound in Anacortes, WA.
“We’re not even at 50 percent yet and it’s already pretty impressive,” said James Spithill (AUS), one of the team’s helmsmen. Franck Cammas (FRA), long-time crew from the Groupama multihull program, is the helmsman for the Anacortes testing session. “The important part is to take it slow as we continue to learn about the boat. Most of us have not done anything like it. It’s a huge credit to the designers and boat builders that everything is working so well at this early stage.”
The sea trials are a progression as the team slowly ramps up the boat and its systems. On Monday, the team sailed the massive multihull for the first time ever. The first day, the boat was sailed with two reefs in the mainsail to reduce the sail area and the power. On Tuesday, the boat sailed without any reefs and with a Solent headsail. Progressively the loads on the boat will be increased.
“Today is another step forward and we will continue refining the systems,“ Spithill said before dock out for Day Two of the Anacortes shakedown.
“Each day we will push things a little bit harder and harder,” said team tactician John Kostecki (USA). “This boat is testing the limits. We are like test pilots and we’re taking it gently and carefully so we don’t have any majors. We’re quite happy with the initial performance of the boat.”
Wednesday the team plans another testing session on the Rosario Strait of Puget Sound.