ITALIANS PROTECTING THE ASSET
A very short day for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli as the team opted for safety first after hearing noises coming off the jib track soon after a tow out offshore having been released and then hitting a wave-crest at pace. It certainly wasn’t the most challenging conditions that the team have faced in recent weeks but safety first, and the call was made to tow back to shore to fully examine the issue after the on-water technicians called it early having been down below for inspection.
The Italians were back on the dock just an hour and twenty minutes after leaving and speaking afterwards Horacio Carabelli, the Design Chief at Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was unfazed by the incident saying: “It was pretty windy and it was going to keep coming up, the wind and the waves, so it was pretty on the limit for us and we sailed a little bit on it and then we had a little bit of a noise with one of our systems and just decided to call the day to understand a little bit better where the noise came from. It's a pretty routine thing when you hear something on these kinds of boats and tomorrow and the rest of the week seem to be very good so why not come back and then keep going for the rest of the week for improvement and go ahead in our development and what we're trying to achieve with this boat for the week?”
Asked about where Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are in their overall design programme, Horacio seemed pleased with progress saying: “I think we're pretty happy now. We are ticking the boxes what we needed now, trying to sail in the best conditions, in conditions that they are in a big range, flat water also with waves, conditions more similar to Barcelona and developing a lot the whole thing, the systems, and the crew itself, helmsman, foil controllers and all the sails and everything so we're pretty happy where we are and this boat is being really a very nice tool for us. We're pretty happy with it.”
Looking forward to Barcelona and the launch of the second generation AC75s that are sure to see huge refinements from AC36, Horacio offered: “For sure, I mean everybody's developing their own and they are on their own track and boats probably will look a little bit different than last time, but let's see it's a surprise for everyone…and even for us as well!”
Encouragingly Horacio confirmed that the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli LEQ12 will be back out on the water tomorrow after an overnight resolution of the systems failure. The asset is protected. The thrilling Italians fight another day.
On Water Recon Unit Notes: The Italian LEQ12 rolled out at 10:30 and the mast was quickly stepped for craning the yacht in by 10:55. The usual protocol checks followed and dock-out was scheduled at 12:00.
On the models, the forecast looked promising with SE ‘Scirocco’ of 15-20kn with the respective choppy sea-state ramping up quickly. When Chase2 towed the LEQ12 the pressure still had to fill in completely as the Recon Unit anemometer displayed S 8-10kn with still some light rest SE swell.
The mainsail M2 was hoisted and, considering the lighter breeze at first, the team opted for the J1.5 jib. The LEQ12 was boarded by 6 crew including youth sailor Guido Gallinaro and cyclor Paolo Simion on the passenger seats.
Once all set, the LEQ12 was towed up on portside tack and dropped back hull borne 4 minutes later entering a patch without any pressure. Then, to anticipate the incoming SE sea-breeze, Chase2 towed the LEQ12 further offshore and, once the wind was encountered, the LEQ12 was released from the tow on portside tack.
This second foiling stint lasted another 6 minutes before the LEQ12 was observed impacting with a wave crest on portside and transited back hull borne. Several technicians jumped on board and seemed to work on jib track/ mast base and below deck. In the meantime, the pressure had increased to 13-15kn SE with decent chop and the J1.5 was lowered. A smaller jib was already passed onboard and about to be hoisted on the halyard, but the team decided to call it a day to fix the issue on the dock and sail in the following days. [Michele Melis AC Recon].
Dock out: 1200 Dock-in: 1320
Conditions: 12:20 S-SSE 8-11kn / 12:50 SE 13-15kn
Weather AM: 25°c @ 1100, sunny.
Weather PM: 22°C @ 1300, sunny.
Sea State: 11:30 flat / 0.4m SE. 12:40 SE chop BF 4-5
Onboard Today:
Helms: Jimmy Spithill / Marco Gradoni
Crew: Umberto Molineris / Andrea Tesei
Onboard (Joyride seats): Guido Gallinaro & Paolo Simion
Sails Used:
Mainsail M2 (MN2-1S): 50 minutes
J1 (J1.5-1-A): 20 minutes
Total Tacks: 21 - 17 foil-to-foil, 4 touch & go, 0 touchdown.
Total Gybes: 19 – 18 foil-to-foil, 1 touch & go, 0 touchdowns.