BMW Oracle Racing got a picture-postcard day yesterday (9 October) as it began the second phase of testing aboard the trimaran that might be used in the next America’s Cup.

“It was a really nice day for sailing in San Diego,” tactician John Kostecki said after the 90 foot x 90 foot boat returned to its berth around sunset. “We had 16 to 18 knots of wind, which is pretty unusual for around here.”

With the fate of the next America’s Cup tied up in a New York court, BMW Oracle Racing continues to test the multihull. On Tuesday, the crew managed speeds of up to 23 knots.

“We weren’t even pushing it,” Kostecki said. “We weren’t really full-on, then, either. I think normally in that condition we could get it up a lot faster, up to 28 or 30 knots.”
The trimaran is a high-performance boat, with a 158 foot mast and approximately 5,300 square feet of main sail, meaning that crewmembers must wear helmets and life vests on board.