After the capsizing of Oracle Team USA's AC72 cat yesterday, the boat was slowly towed back to the team's base overnight and righted the following afternoon during the crane operation. Although the hulls and appendages appear intact, the extensive damage caused by the accident was evident. The deck was completely swept clean, the trampoline and the aerodynamic panelling at the stern were missing. Search teams were still busy tracking down and recovering floating wreckage on the bay hours after the incident.
"It was pretty scary," said Laser world champion and Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, who was on board during the rollover. "We pushed the boat harder every day and I think we reached our limit. I'm also sure that the others looked closely to recognise the limits." You could tell that this world-class sailor was still reeling from the shock. "I was at the winch and looked aft when I saw the empty rudder coming out of the water. My colleague, who was looking forwards, immediately took cover and clung to the platform. It was a bizarre feeling when the boat went over the side because no-one had ever been that far above the water in a capsize. You can't describe it, but it was very worrying."
At the Oracle base on Pier 80, however, the mood was at its lowest point, and the faces in the photos speak volumes. This capsize was more than just a mishap, it could be the critical point for the entire programme, a moment of truth, similar to the mast breakage on the big trimaran before the last Cup in 2010. "A setback," skipper Jimmy Spithill calls it. "We wanted to save ourselves something like that, but this team is strong and has overcome such challenges in the past," said the Australian, encouraging himself and his colleagues. "Champions have to overcome problems and I trust that we will do so. At a time like this, I wouldn't want to be with any other team."
Retrospective of the capsize
It is currently unclear how long the ship will be out of action. It is also unclear what impact this incident will have on the construction of the second AC72, which has probably already begun. This boat is due to be deployed from spring 2013.
