“THIS BOAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US”
Whilst persistent light airs continue to dog the Sardinian coastline, the superb team at Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli carry on the testing programme of their LEQ12 prototype yacht that is the key to the ongoing development and testing ahead of the big design calls for their one-build AC75 for Barcelona 2024. Team Director Max Sirena was unequivocal about the programme saying: “This boat is so important for us, for the development of the big boat, so this is just the beginning.”
And on a day where zephyrs of breeze were hard to find amidst a muggy 24 degree Cagliari haze, the sailors led by Jimmy Spithill and World Sailor of the Year, Ruggero Tita launched, set the biggest sails possible and managed to get flying. The on-water recon units reported that: the first take off with oily 0 breeze, suspected large flap angles due to low speed (bow up) and only mainsail sheeted, second take off tow-to-fly with main+jib in light breeze (6-8kn) flying for 5-7 minutes, maximum boat speed reached approximately 31 knots (according to RIB GPS).
An impressive performance in such light airs, proving the vast potency of these high-powered LEQ12’s that we are sure to see flying as soon as Mother Nature plays her part.
Details are gradually being captured by the recon photographers covering LRPP and this LEQ12 is loaded with neat design and advanced electronics. The rudder elevator is raked and sculpted with a sharp run-off on its trailing edge that gradually increases further up the foil, whilst the beautifully formed flat bulbs on the port and starboard foils carry large-span wings to aid light-weather take-off (and very much an area of development due to the AC75 rule change allowing longer foils) with sharply arced positive wing tips with more pronouncement on the outer tips and a blunter inner.
For this session the clew ram that connects through to the mainsheet traveller was exposed and the engineering that is on display to accurately control the drive in the lower third of the mainsail and adopt the aggressive traveller sheeting style that we’ve seen demonstrated so well by Emirates Team New Zealand in the sailing trials of the AC40, was much in evidence. Rival teams are looking closely at this LEQ12 with the biggest number of questions posed through the recon forum. Main interests seem to be around the control systems – particularly the main and jib sheeting systems and the control panels and buttons within the cockpit.
Today’s session was stopped due to an electrical issue as reported by the recon team with the team docking back in at 1650 local time, having docked-out at 1345 to try and find the afternoon breeze. A good session for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and certainly a team to watch in the coming weeks. (Magnus Wheatley)
Wind Strength: 2 knots (AM) 7 Knots (PM)
Temperature: 26 degrees & sunny
Crew: Jimmy Spithill, Ruggero Tita, Umberto Molineris, Andrea Tesei