PULLING THE MOVES IN SARDINIA

When we get to the AC75’s next year, this will be a key determinant of what looks like being one of the closest America’s Cup contests in years. Being able to spin on a dime, maintain flight, slow down on the double-board time-on-distance technique back into the line and then accelerate hard and fast is what the Italians are really concentrating on and with some very simply exercises, are excelling at. Holding the double boards down for maximum manoeuvrability and then cautiously raising the windward arm looks to be a move that gives them options – a quick release of that raised board and the helms can tack away with ease whilst the gybe on the immersed foil is 100% on. The Italians are thinking ahead and what they call ‘the playbook’ is very much being filled with dynamite technique covering all eventualities. Impressive.

With Marco Gradoni and Jimmy Spithill on the wheels, it was a day of high crew co-ordination between the helms and the ever-present Flight Controllers of Andrea Tesei and Umberto Molineris whilst cyclor Nicholas Brezzi and Nacra 17 and Waszp sensation Margherita Porro thoroughly enjoyed their rides in the observation seats. A couple of issues were observed with the starboard foil cant system later in the afternoon with technicians jumping onboard to diagnose and fix the problem before some late in the day racing one on one with Chase Boat 1 – a training exercise that the Italians are really getting into. 

Matteo Plazzi, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Rules Adviser was in Cagliari today and came to the interview station after sailing to give a broad ranging interview covering the recon programme and who the teams are that the Italians fear most. Matteo pointed at the Kiwis saying: “Well for sure all the teams are equally important, but probably there is somebody that is more equal than somebody else and for sure the reference is always (Emirates) Team New Zealand they won the last Cup and they started sailing very early, they're doing a lot of things early, so is good to keep a good eye on them but for sure nobody, including the French and all the teams, need the equal respect.”

And talking about where the team are at now in the programme off the water, Matteo commented: “I think looking on how each team use the day you can have good information about their level of reliability of their boat and for sure all the new components are key for the development of the boat. We’re reaching now the conclusion of the design stage of the boat so it's time to get all the information and produce that in a new, fast, boat.”

So much rests on the decisions that the designers make in conjunction with the technical sailors now. The sailors have more done their part through the winter training block, deriving that all-important data for the decisions to be based off as Matteo was quick to recognise saying: “…for sure the boys are using the time very well. They are achieving a lot in the hours that they are sailing, they're doing very intensive days and that is good.”

Intense and relentless have been the mark of this Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli challenge who are looking more than good for Barcelona in 2024.

 On Water Recon Unit Notes: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli rolled out their LEQ12 prototype to sail firstly in some dying Maestrale from the morning and some sea-breeze in the afternoon. Once the mast was stepped, the yacht was craned in and the usual checks followed before dock-out scheduled for 11:45. The mainsail M1 was locked in the mast fittings and 6 crew, including one cyclor and one female youth sailor on joyride seat, boarded the prototype which was towed offshore of Sant'Elia to fully hoist the main with the J1.5 jib. The sea-state was flat and the offshore NW-NNW breeze did not exceed 12kn on the RU anemometer.

Once all set, the LEQ12 was towed up took off on portside tack, tacked right away and bore away heading downwind for some gybes before trimming back up to stay closer to shore where the offshore breeze seemed more steady. After 20 foiling minutes, the LEQ12 came to a stop as the warm pressure died completely allowing sailors for a quick debrief. Chase2 then towed the prototype slightly offshore to anticipate the incoming SSE sea-breeze.

Having found some steady pressure, the second foiling stint began with releasing the LEQ12 from towline and with the execution of some tacks before bearing away for a long downwind run with some occasional gybes. Chase2 laid out the usual race course and the yacht sailed around it for 2 legs before stopping after another approx. 20 minutes foilborne.

The sea-breeze had increased to 12-14kn SSE and hence the J1.5 was lowered to hoist the J2. Once foilborne again, one uncompleted prestart was observed and it seemed that the team were doing checks on the starboard cant system with hydraulic technicians entering hatches while the board was raised and lowered several times.

Shortly afterwards the team completed a prestart with time on distance and proceeded sailing around the course for some legs for another approx. 20 minutes and stopped to debrief. Some additional mark roundings were observed before Chase2 collected the marks and the LEQ12 engaged with Chase1 for some interference sailing downwind and stopping by the harbour to lower the sails.

During the day a foiling time of 82 minutes out of 195 in total, with 27 tacks, and 21 gybes were counted [Michele Melis AC Recon].

Dock out: 1145 Dock-in: 1510

Conditions: 11:45 NNW 9-11kn / 13:05 SSE 12-14kn / 14:20 SSE 13-15kn

Weather AM: 29°C 11:30, sunny / 32°C PM, sunny

Sea State: Flat

Onboard Today:

Helms: Marco Gradoni / Jimmy Spithill

Crew: Umberto Molineris / Andrea Tesei

Observation Seats: Nicholas Brezzi (Cyclor) and Margherita Porro (Youth/Women Athlete)

Sails Used:

Mainsail M1 (MN1-1S): 3 hours 15 minutes

J1 (J1.5-1-A): 1 hour

J2 (J2-1-B): 2 hours 40 minutes

Total Tacks: 27 - 24 foil-to-foil, 3 touch & go, 0 touchdowns.

Total Gybes: 21 – 18 foil-to-foil, 3 touch & go, 0 touchdowns.