What do you use to cut a $10 million mast?

R

RogerF

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Nov 11, 2007
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77
Festool of course!
OK here's the story: The BMW Oracle Racing Trimaran is training off San Diego as it prepares to challenge for the America's Cup.
Here she is a couple of weeks ago. She is about 115' long, 90' wide and that mast is 185' tall.[attachimg=#1]
Then last week disaster struck:[attachimg=#2]
The mast broke in two and both sections were salvaged. Back at base the builders set about repairing it.[attachimg=#3]
Cut out the shattered bits.[attachimg=#4]
Nice clean cut[attachimg=#5]
 
Dust collection with carbon is important especially working over the water in California where the rules are very strict[attachimg=#1]
Yesterday the team unveiled their new hard wing sail. It is almost twice the size of a 747 wing at 190' tall[attachimg=#2]
 
Now that's something we don't see here everyday. Nice.

But what's your angle in this, Roger? You're part of the team or were you taking some spy shots for the competition?  [big grin]
 
Alex,
Neither a spy nor a team member, but I do a lot of sailing here in San Diego and so have seen the boat over the last year. I have some great shots but non of these are mine.
This America's Cup challenge is aberrant and the machinations that have brought it to this are an embarrassment to the sport of sailing.
However, the two resulting yachts are pushing the boundaries of technology to such a degree in terms of scale and performance that it is fascinating to watch. The Swiss billionare has built a beautiful catamaran of similar size to defend against the hostile challenge of the American billionare. I doubt that we shall ever see anything like this again. The claimed price of that mast was really $10,000,000. They have three of those. Can you imagine how much that wing cost?
They are due to race in February 2010. Best of three races and will probably never sail again.

 
Hmmm? I wonder how Admiral Hasslefactor would respond if I took my TS75 to her mast? Something tells me Max would be let loose to take a chunk out of my behind as I was running helter-skelter across the yards to flee.  [eek]
 
Peter,
Festool did sponsor Team Ericsson in the Volvo Ocean Race last year. I am not aware of any partnership with BMW Oracle Racing.
 
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