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November 10, 2009

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Home » Sports » Sailing

BMW Oracle Racing unveils giant wing

AMERICA'S Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing has unveiled what is believed to be the world's largest wing, which it will test as a replacement for a traditional soft-sail rig on its giant trimaran.

Complete with flaps, the wing will tower nearly 58 meters above the deck when it's installed this week. It is longer than the wing of an Airbus 380, the world's largest passenger airliner.

Late on Sunday afternoon, BMW Oracle Racing peeled back the flaps of the tent where the wing was assembled during the last several weeks. The wing was to be slowly wheeled out during the evening and installed in the boat during the next day or two, depending on the weather.

"It's an awesome piece of kit," skipper Russell Coutts said.

BMW Oracle Racing hopes it will give it the edge against defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland.

The wing adds another dimension to an already over-the-top America's Cup, which will feature two of the fastest, most extreme boats ever built for sailing's premier regatta. BMW Oracle Racing's trimaran is 27-by-27 meters, and Alinghi has built an equally immense catamaran.

Both carbon-fiber giants feature engines to run hydraulic systems that trim their sails and move water ballast from one hull to another, a first in America's Cup history.



 

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