YOUNG GUNS BLOODED IN CAGLIARI
We have been treated to some spectacular sailing sessions by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli over the past few months since the launch of the LEQ12 prototype that they have taken to such a high level of professionalism to be almost peerless in sailing style. The settled senior helms of Francesco Bruni and Jimmy Spithill have been complemented with top-class helms such as Ruggero Tita and Marco Gradoni that finding a difference between them, from the outside looking in, has proven hard. Flight has been solid through the axis of Andrea Tesei, Vittorio Bissaro and Umberto Molineris and they have rarely had an off day in months.
Today, the team were pushing so hard over very short courses where co-ordination and communication would always be key and with six onboard including youth team member Guido Gallinaro as the wind came in at a steady 16-17 knots, that at times the team looked just a degree off what we are accustomed to seeing. They were sailing certainly harder than usual and living well outside their comfort zone, trying new pitch and ride height, testing different roundups and bear-aways. The team still put in some 52 tacks and gybes in total with the vast majority being foil-to foil, but it was certainly a day to go beyond the norm and find the edge..
The culmination of this considered effort came to a crescendo at a leeward mark rounding late in the session where a capsize was narrowly, and somewhat miraculously avoided. The LEQ12 came in hot to the mark with both boards, thankfully lowered, with the team possibly attempting the two board JK manoeuvre when the bow stuffed into a waveform with the flight perhaps too low and the boat came to almost a full stop before screwing up around the mark and into the wind. With the windward board in the drop position, somehow the boat stayed upright but it was a hairy moment for the team.
After sailing, Andrea Tesei the ace Flight Controller and even more ace 49er sailor who came to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli via the New Generation project in 2021 gave a refreshing insight and talking about the near capsize he said: “To be honest we still need to debrief what we did but for sure we are turning the marks trying to push the boat and push the manoeuvres everyday more, so it was a bit of a tight round up and we just sank on the foil and stuffed the bow underwater and it was pretty spectacular but nothing, just some basic operational mistakes and a boat handling mistake once we start pushing around the marks. It’s just stuff that happens.”
And when asked a brilliant question as to what the best feeling is onboard in the Flight Control position, Andrea offered a relatable answer: “I personally enjoy a lot the prestart situation where I really need to be dynamic on the trim of the boat and keep it balanced with the sail plan and the foils. It’s a lot like going on the wing (of the 49er) and moving the weight forward and aft and kind of finding that right balance not to be draggy and keeping the boat on the foils when you are at a slow speed. I like correcting difficult situations, it’s nice when you are out of balance, and you can manage to lock in the boat again. It’s a good feeling.”
The good feelings continue in Cagliari. This is a team pushing the boundaries of the possible now and taking their LEQ12 to the outer limit. Fabulous too, that the Italians are being so encouraging of the new, vital, youth talent that are emerging fast out of Italy. The foiling generation are coming fast, and the very future of the America’s Cup could well be resting on their shoulders in short order. Brilliant to see.
On Water Recon Unit Notes: The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 11:30am, stepped the mast and craned in undergoing the usual protocol checks at the dock to be prepared for dock-out which was scheduled at 1pm. The sea breeze filled in shortly after the offshore NW breeze dropped completely and the team headed out of the harbour with the M2 mainsail locked in to fully hoist it with the J2 jib.
Throughout the day, the LEQ12 hosted 6 crews which swapped several times including a new entry from the Luna Rossa youth campaign on the passenger seat.
On the first of several self take-offs,the prototype headed upwind towards Sarroch for some straight line sailing on both tacks before bearing away and heading to the laid out usual race course. The wind condition on the Gulf looked quite promising with 10-12kn of S-SSE breeze including some choppy sea state. Around the marks the LEQ12 completed a total of 7 windward legs and 8 leeward legs and 7 starts with possible time on distance were observed. O
In the leeward gate while rounding up on two boards the prototype almost capsized after a nosedive, the crew greatly saved it after heeling over at approx. 45 degrees. Some checks followed afterwards with inspections by shore crew on the mainsail and ride height sensor aft on portside while the sailors regrouped in the pods.
The prototype kept on sailing shortly later before Chase2 grabbed the marks and sails were lowered. Certainly, another productive day for the Italian team as a total foiling time of 116 minutes, 24 tacks, 28 gybes and a series of marks roundings manoeuvres were observed.
Dock out: 1315 Dock-in: 1630
Onboard Today
Helms: Ruggero Tita / Marco Gradoni/ Francesco Bruni
Crew: Andrea Tesei / Vittorio Bissaro / Umberto Molineris
Recon Notes: Guido Gallinaro, new youth team member joined in the joyride seat
Sails Used:
Mainsail M1 (MN1-1S): 3 hours 45 minutes
J2 (J2-1-B): 3 hours 25 minutes
Total Tacks: 24 - 20 foil-to-foil, 2 touch & go, 2 touchdowns
Total Gybes: 28 – 24 foil-to-foil, 4 touch & go.
Wind Strength: 13:20 S-SSE 10-12kn/ 15:50 S-SSE 13-15kn. Weather PM: 16-20°c Sunny.