View source for USA 17

{{Short description|Racing trimaran}}
{{Infobox Americas Cup Yacht
| title        = USA 17
| image        = USA-17-flying-cropped.jpg
| caption      = BMW Oracle racing ''USA-17'' training off Valencia, Spain in late January, 2010
| club         = {{yachtclub|Golden Gate Yacht Club}}
| nat          = {{flagcountry|USA|2010}}
| ac_year      = 2010
| type         = [[Trimaran]]
| class        =
| designer     = [[VPLP]]
| builder      = Core Builders<br />[[Anacortes, WA]], USA
| sailno = USA–17
| launched     =
| owner        = [[Oracle Team USA]]
| skip         = [[James Spithill]]
| crew         =
| wins         = [[2010 America's Cup]]
| boats        =
| fate         =
| displacement = 17 tons
| length       = {{convert|113|ft|m|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|LOA]])<br />{{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}} ([[waterline length|LWL]])
| beam         = {{convert|89.9|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| height         = {{convert|180|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| draft        =
| sail         = {{convert|13700|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| notes        =
}}
'''''USA-17'''''{{efn|The name shown on official documentation is USA, but the boat's name is USA 17.<ref name="voilesetvoiliers">{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://www.voilesetvoiliers.com/course-regate/interview-du-barreur-de-bmw-oracle-racing-usa-17-a-valencia-james-spithill/&sl=auto&tl=en |title=Interview with the BMW-Oracle Racing helmsman: James Spithill: "To better bar the USA-17, I even passed my pilot's license!" |date=26 January 2010 |language=fr |access-date=2012-04-25
}}</ref><ref name="CupInfo">{{cite web|title=James Spithill Talks About BMW Oracle's Giant Multi-hull|url=http://www.cupinfo.com/en/bmwo-multihull-san-diego-spithill-002.php|website=CupInfo.com|publisher=BMW Oracle Racing in San Diego|access-date=7 June 2017|year=2009}}</ref>}} (formerly known as '''''BMW Oracle Racing&nbsp;90''''' or '''''BOR90''''') is a [[sloop]] rigged racing trimaran built by the American sailing team [[BMW Oracle Racing]] to challenge for the [[2010 America's Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ggyc.com/09%2008%2010%20GGYC%20Press%20Statement.pdf |title=Title unknown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823170055/http://www.ggyc.com/09%2008%2010%20GGYC%20Press%20Statement.pdf |archive-date=August 23, 2009 }}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.tdg.ch/sports/actu/alinghi-oracle-armes-duel-2009-08-17
|title=Title unknown
|work=Tribune de Genève
|date=18 August 2009
}}{{dead link | date=April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/archive/overview.html?track.refer=/en/news/overview.html&track.type=sn |title=Title unknown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115225027/http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/archive/overview.html?track.refer=%2Fen%2Fnews%2Foverview.html&track.type=sn |archive-date=November 15, 2008 }}</ref> Designed by [[VPLP]] Yacht Design with consultation from [[Franck Cammas]] and his Groupama multi-hull sailing team, ''BOR90'' is very light for her size being constructed almost entirely out of carbon fiber and epoxy resin, and exhibits very high performance being able to sail at 2.0 to 2.5&nbsp;times the true wind speed.<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.teamusa.org/News/2008/November/07/BMW-Oracle-Racing-pushes-edge-in-90-foot-trimaran
|title=BMW Oracle Racing pushes edge in 90-foot trimaran
|date=8 November 2008
|publisher=TeamUSA Sports
|access-date=7 March 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> From the actual performance of the boat during the [[2010 America's Cup]] races, it can be seen that she could achieve a [[Sailing faster than the wind#Speed made good|velocity made good]] upwind of over twice the wind speed and downwind of over 2.5 times the wind speed. She can apparently sail at 20&nbsp;degrees off the apparent wind.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.cupinfo.com/en/bmwo-multihull-san-diego-coutts-002.php
|title=Russell Coutts Talks About BMW Oracle's Giant Multi-hull
|last=Swintal
|first=Diane
|date=13 August 2009
|work=cupinfo.com
|access-date=2012-04-25
}}</ref> The boat sails so fast downwind that the [[apparent wind]] she generates is only 5-6 degrees different from that when she is racing upwind; that is, the boat is always sailing upwind with respect to the apparent wind.<ref>
{{cite web
|url         = http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/friday-the-third-pt-1-19-1957
|title       = Friday the Third. Pt 1?
|date        = 11 February 2010
|access-date  = 2012-04-25
|url-status=dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224134240/http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/friday-the-third-pt-1-19-1957
|archive-date = 24 February 2012
}}</ref> An explanation of this phenomenon can be found in the article on [[sailing faster than the wind]].
==Design==
''USA 17'' was designed by [[VPLP]].
==Career==
===Launching and initial testing===
[[Image:BMW Oracle BOR90.JPG|thumb|BMW Oracle Racing's ''BOR 90'' in original configuration, sailing in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego]]
''BOR 90'' was launched in [[Anacortes, Washington]] in August 2008 after more than 9 months of construction. She underwent initial testing in Anacortes before being shipped to San Diego, California for additional sea trials and development.
In March 2009, ''USA 17'' (then referred to as ''BOR90'') was pulled from the water for extensive modification in BMW Oracle Racing's San Diego shop. She emerged in early July, 2009, featuring [[wave-piercing]] hulls and other modifications.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/articles/00_09_02/0708_trials.html?track.refer=/en/index.html&track.type=home
|agency=Associated Press
|title=Team plans modifications to trimaran
|date=2009-03-03
|publisher=ESPN
|access-date=2009-06-09
}}{{dead link | date=April 2012}}</ref> She was further modified subsequently, in particular in October 2009 to add an engine to power hydraulic winches.<ref name="bmworacleracing.com">
{{cite web
|url          = http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/current/index.html?track.refer=/en/index.html&track.type=hn
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101005183340/http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/current/index.html?track.refer=%2Fen%2Findex.html&track.type=hn
|url-status=dead
|archive-date = 2010-10-05
|title        = Title unknown
}}</ref>
On November 8, 2009, the team announced that a [[Sail#Types|rigid sail]] wing had been built for the yacht.{{efn|[[Stars and Stripes (yacht)#Catamaran-hull yachts|''Stars and Stripes'']], a catamaran with this type of rigid sail (a wing) won the [[1988 America's Cup]].}} The [[wingsail]] was initially {{convert|190|ft|m}} tall and some 80&nbsp;percent larger than the wing of a [[Boeing 747]] airplane; it was later extended to {{convert|223|ft|m}}.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/articles/00_pr/news15.html?track.refer=/en/news/current/overview.html&track.type=news
|title=Title unknown
}}{{dead link | date=April 2012}}</ref> The wing has a very high [[Aspect ratio (wing)|aspect ratio]], meaning that it is very tall and narrow. It can change [[camber (aerodynamics)|camber]] to adjust [[lift (force)|lift]] in order to optimize performance. The wing consists of two main elements, separated by a vertical slot through which air can flow. The rear element is made up of several separate sections, whose angle can be adjusted separately, much like the [[flap (aircraft)|flaps]] on an airplane's [[wing]]. Thus the lift of the sail can be controlled very finely, both overall, and for each section.
The wing is more efficient than a traditional soft-sail rig setup. On November 10, BMW reported that they hit {{convert|32|mph|kn}} boat speed in a {{convert|10|kn|adj=on}} reported wind speed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/archive/index.html?track.refer=/en/frame/overview/top_americas_cup.4ml&track.type=hn |title=Title unknown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103012847/http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/archive/index.html?track.refer=%2Fen%2Fframe%2Foverview%2Ftop_americas_cup.4ml&track.type=hn |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}</ref> During the first race of the 2010 America's Cup, ''USA 17'' was able to sail upwind faster than ''[[Alinghi 5]]'' even without a [[jib]]. Since the sail area of ''USA 17''{{'}}s wing is much larger than the sail area of ''Alinghi 5''{{'}}s mainsail and jib combined, it is clear that the rigid wing is much more efficient than even high-performance traditional sails.
===America's Cup===
{{main|2010_America's_Cup#Regatta}}
{{Overly detailed|date=April 2012|section=yes}}
====Race 1====
The first race of the 2010 America's Cup took place on February 12, 2010. ''USA 17'' beat the defender, ''Alinghi 5''. ''USA 17'' started behind by 1:27 after [[Racing Rules of Sailing|start box maneuvering]] with ''Alinghi'',<ref>{{cite AV media
| date =2010-02-12
| title =OTW R1 (4)
| medium =online video
| url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkw3VauwNfU
| access-date =2014-05-14
| time =2m15s - 3m44s
| location =Valencia, Spain
| publisher =dogzillamonster userid on YouTube
}}</ref> but was ahead by 3:21 at the windward mark and by about 9 minutes at the finish. Her official finish time was 15:28 ahead of the loser because ''Alinghi 5'' had to perform a penalty turn, having failed to stay clear at the start.<ref>
{{cite web
|url         = http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/first-blood-to-usa-19-2362
|title       = First Blood to USA
|access-date  = 2012-04-21
|url-status=dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120531022511/http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/first-blood-to-usa-19-2362
|archive-date = 2012-05-31
}}</ref>
Wind speeds were {{convert|5|-|10|kn}} during the first race. ''USA 17'' reached the windward mark in 1h29, so her [[velocity made good]] was about {{convert|13.5|kn}}, or about 1.8 times wind speed. ''USA 17'' took 63 minutes to reach the downwind mark, so her velocity made good downwind was about {{convert|19|kn}}, or about 2.5 times wind speed.<ref name=tdgr1>
{{cite news
|newspaper=Tribune de Genève
|url=http://www.tdg.ch/actu/sports/demonstration-puissance-oracle-brise-reve-alinghi-2010-02-12
|title=La démonstration de puissance d'Oracle brise le rêve d'Alinghi
|last=Nusslé
|first=Pierre
|date=13 February 2010
|language=fr
|access-date=2012-04-21
}}</ref><ref name=numbers>
{{cite web
|url         = http://www.yachtonline.it/americas-cup-2010-valencia/americas-cup-the-numbers-of-a-victory
|title       = America's Cup, the numbers of a victory
|publisher   = Yacht Online
|access-date  = 2010-03-09
|url-status=dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722070527/http://www.yachtonline.it/americas-cup-2010-valencia/americas-cup-the-numbers-of-a-victory
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}</ref>{{efn|See minutes 30 and 59 of podcast interview with ''USA 17'' designer Mike Drummond.<ref name="omegatau2">
{{cite web
|url=http://omegataupodcast.net/2011/07/71-oracle-racings-usa-17/
|title=Oracle Racing's USA 17
| publisher=Omega Tau
|date=20 July 2011
|access-date=12 August 2011
}}</ref>}}
The measured wind velocity is taken at near sea level, and does not account for effects of [[Wind gradient#Sailing|wind gradient]] with reported true wind speed of {{convert|15|kn}} at mast head height of over {{convert|60|m}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fillmedia.com/americas-cup-2010-33rd-americas-cup-2010-race-2-live-stream-7730.htm |title=Title unknown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711001558/http://www.fillmedia.com/americas-cup-2010-33rd-americas-cup-2010-race-2-live-stream-7730.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref> The measured sea-level wind direction shifted away from 180 degrees between the time of setting of the course and commencement of sailing of the downwind leg, by which time wind direction was reported to be at around 160 degrees.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://33rd.americascup.com/en/regate/regarder-la-course/show.html
|title=Live Video Coverage of the Event
|access-date=2012-04-25
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309053911/http://33rd.americascup.com/en/regate/regarder-la-course/show.html
|archive-date=2012-03-09
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>{{Failed verification | date=April 2012}} As such the ratio between downwind [[velocity made good]] and wind speed is an approximation only.
====Race 2====
On February 14, 2010, ''USA 17'' also won the second race, and thus the America's Cup, again by a considerable margin. ''USA 17'' was ahead by 0:24 at the start, by 0:28 at the windward mark, by 2:44 at the gybe mark, and by over 4 minutes at the finish. Her official finish time was 5:26 ahead of the defender because ''Alinghi 5'' had to perform a penalty turn, having entered the pre-start area too soon.<ref name="r2">
{{cite web
|url         = http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/usa-win-33rd-america-s-cup-match-19-2827
|title       = USA win 33rd America's Cup Match – News – 33rd America's Cup
|publisher   = Americascup.com
|access-date  = 2010-02-15
|url-status=dead
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133827/http://33rd.americascup.com/en/actualite/news/usa-win-33rd-america-s-cup-match-19-2827
|archive-date = 2011-07-07
}}</ref>
Wind speeds were {{convert|7|to|8|kn}} during the second race. ''USA 17'' reached the windward mark in 59 minutes, so her velocity made good was about {{convert|13.2|kn}}, or about 1.65 times wind speed. The course was a triangle, so the velocity made good downwind was only {{convert|11.5|kn}}, or about 1.4 times wind speed. ''USA 17'' averaged {{convert|26.8|kn}}, or about 3.6 times the wind speed, on the faster first triangular leg.<ref name= "r2" /><ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://bmworacleracing.com/en/news/articles/00_10_01/0214_3.html?track.refer=/en/news/current/overview.html&track.type=news
|title=BMW ORACLE Racing
|publisher=BMW ORACLE Racing
|date=2003-09-30
|access-date=2010-02-15
}}{{dead link | date=April 2012}}</ref>
Observers stated that the rigid wing had given USA a decisive advantage.<ref name=tdgr1/><ref name=r2/>
==See also==
*[[List of large sailing yachts]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|USA 17 (ship, 2008)}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090716230146/http://galleries.sandiegobayshots.com/ BOR 90 Trials] Bayshots Images
*[http://bmworacleracing.com/en/index.html BMW Oracle Racing] official site
*[http://www.vplp.fr/realisation/oracle-usa17/58.html VPLP Yacht Design]
*[http://www.bymnews.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=240 Hundreds of images of the BOR 90]
*[https://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6455028 ABC News Story on BOR and the BOR90 (video)]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ITwzCb_6E CBS News Story on BOR and the BOR90 (video)]
*[http://www.americascup.com 35th America's Cup] official site
*[http://omegataupodcast.net/2011/07/71-oracle-racings-usa-17/] Podcast of technical interview with the designer
{{America'sCup}}
{{America's Cup Yachts}}
{{Sailing vessels and rigs}}
[[Category:Trimarans]]
[[Category:America's Cup challengers]]
[[Category:2000s sailing yachts]]
[[Category:Sailing yachts built in the United States]]
[[Category:Sailing yachts designed by VPLP]]
[[Category:Sailing yachts of the United States]]
[[Category:2010 America's Cup]]
[[Category:Oracle Team USA]]