First sea trials of the newly modified BOR 90

[Source: BMW Oracle] BMW ORACLE Racing today started sea trials of their 90-foot by 90-foot high-tech racing machine in the waters off Point Loma in San Diego.

Helmsman James Spithill (AUS) guided the newly modified BOR 90 trimaran off the dock at 11:30am sharp local time. The 16-story mast was installed on Monday and on Tuesday the team conducted a series of engineering tests to ensure the boat was ready to take to the water for the next phase of sea trials.

The team will ease into this next round of testing as structural and other tests continue on the water. “As we gain more confidence with the boat, we'll certainly be out there pushing it and seeing what we can get out of it," Spithill said.

“It's breaking new ground," says the team’s 30-year-old helmsman. "This has never been done before, so it's an incredible opportunity for the sailors on both teams, and all the people involved; designers, builders. These boats have the most amazing power-to-weight ratio. There's nothing else that's ever been done on this sort of scale."

BMW ORACLE Racing is the Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup. The team will meet the Swiss Defender Alinghi in a best two-of-three head-to-head duel starting February 8. The venue for the competition will be named by the Defender by August 8.

First sea trials of the newly modified BOR 90 trimaran. San Diego, 8 July 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

First sea trials of the newly modified BOR 90 trimaran. San Diego, 8 July 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

First sea trials of the newly modified BOR 90 trimaran. San Diego, 8 July 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle

First sea trials of the newly modified BOR 90 trimaran. San Diego, 8 July 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW Oracle