From my rocky ridge in the middle of New Mexico, I watched Race 5 of the America’s Cup on satellite TV last night. I’ll stick with my earlier post, saying I enjoy watching the big multihulls race on San Francisco Bay, but it’s disappointing to see so many Oracle problems.
For relief, I’m starting to look forward to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December with Donnie Gay, Joe Beaver and B&W ads. (B&W, by the way, makes trailer hitches, not sports cars).
You could see things fall apart in Race No. 5 when Oracle blew a tack at the second gate and stalled. Then there seemed to be problems with the daggerboards. Analyzers said the New Zealand boat is easier to sail, and it certainly seems faster upwind.
I’m two races behind in my recorded viewing. Oracle lost two more races after No. 5 and postponing No. 6 to regroup. Tactician replaced. But if design issues are leading to the tacking problems, I fear it’s over.
I could rewatch the recordings if the Oracle problems weren’t seeming so predictable.
dream ranch 