LIGHTS. CAMERAS (AND SOME) ACTION

On a day where ‘chasing the wind meant chasing the waves’ according to Flight Controller Andrea Tesei, the team still extracted good wave training and following behind the LEQ12, there was some high technique on display through the swells with over-sheeting of the traveller in the troughs and rapid trim at the top of the waves. The mainsheet shrouding - an almost symmetrical padded box - is noticeably and unarguably the neatest in the AC fleet and Luna Rossa does have a beautiful ability to 'pop' quickly under tow or under her own steam when the conditions allow. This has been a first class prototype for the Italians to test their systems, controls and techniques on and today the established team just looked easy in each other's company - and fast when required. 

Indeed, at various points the LEQ12 had to be slowed down in order for the media and drones to catch up so this was a day at half gas with Marco Gradoni and Jimmy Spithill putting on a great show for their ultimate paymasters - Prada.

Speaking afterwards, Andrea Tesei summed up the day saying: Today was a media rented day so our focus was not really on sailing the boat and developing our boat but more of getting footage done and...it was one of those hard days where this westerly wasn't coming into the Gulf then we had to go chase for the wind but chasing for the wind meant also chasing waves so we ran into some pretty steep waves and very up and down breeze -  it was pretty challenging and in the end it turned out actually a nice boat handling day in waves, productive for Barcelona as well.”

Over in Barcelona the winter forecast simply wasn’t playing ball for INEOS Britannia who launched their two AC40s more in hope than expectation into a glass-out that some weather models suggested might develop. In the end it wasn’t to be and the team towed home, eyeing the other extreme of forecast with wind and swell that is due to come in overnight and develop throughout the rest of the week.

Xabi Fernandez, one of the INEOS Britannia coaches cut a quiet figure dockside saying: “Well I guess we did a lot of testing as you know with T6 last year and kind of committed for the big boat, and now in this period we are now two-boat racing trying to upscale everyone on match-racing and techniques and even though we are obviously in the AC40 one-design configuration making sure the boys are sharp and try to do exercises to be ready for their for the racing in the Cup - and basically waiting for the big boat to come.”

The new AC75s simply can’t come soon enough for many of the teams and with all the new boats well into their final build period, the temperature is only going to rise as the business end of the America’s Cup looms ever closer. Stay tuned. (Magnus Wheatley)

On-Water Recon Report – INEOS Britannia: Team INEOS Britannia craned to the water their AC40(a) Athena at 09.30 am, that had been left out of the shed overnight. At 10.30 am AC40(b) Sienna got rolled out and half an hour later it was sent to the water after stepping the mast. Both boats on full one-design configuration.

The team docked out at 13:00, half an hour later than planned, possibly due to lack of wind. During the morning, normal routine activities took place on each boat.

One-design mainsails were hoisted at 13:10 while coming out of the harbour. No jibs were hoisted.

Both boats waited for an hour and a half approximately, just outside of the port, for the wind to show up. Unfortunately, there was no success.

At 14:45 the team finally decided to head back to the base. Sails were lowered at 14:48, both boats docked at 15:10 and AC40(b) was the first of the two to be craned out of the water at 15:15 indicating the end of the day. (Sebastian Peri Brusa)

On-Water Recon Report – Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli: The Italian team rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 12:30, stepped mast and craned the yacht in by 12:45 undergoing the usual checks at the dock.

At 13:20 M1-2 was being loaded on deck and the team docked out their prototype at 13:50. Lots of movement at the Italian base for a Prada Shooting off and on the water. 

The prototype was mounted with additional cameras and mics hosting six sailors including a guest with camera men. Once out in the Gulf, some smaller swell was rolling in from 190° while the wind was measured at 6-8kn from 175° TWA. The LEQ12 was then towed for some minutes before stopping to fully hoist the M1-2 mainsail. Once the main was hoisted, the team towed the yacht for approximately 10 additional minutes with closer chase boats for filming purposes.

By then, the team found some incoming breeze measured 9-11kn from 190° TWA with steep waves of approx. 0.8-1.2m from 195° and the J1-1 was hoisted. On the first stint, the LEQ12 was towed up on starboard tack and sailed for some minutes on this tack before decelerating on both boards. With the rough sea-state it was again quite challenging to keep up closely with the yacht for proper footage, more to come in the following sailing days.

On the second short foiling stint the yacht was towed up on foils on port tack sailing away from all Chase Boats, executed two touch & go tacks and, after a careful bear-away, the crew trimmed up, stopping to allow the Chase Boats to catch up. A longer break followed, and the breeze had increased to 14-16kn from 215 TWA. Once towed up, the yacht sailed a longer stint on port tack to fly-by on the filming crew of Chase1.

The yacht came off the foils and was then back on the tow-line for a while. Finally, it was towed back up on port tack, bearing away for a long downwind run, trimming up and stopping.

The day was called at 15:35 with 28 minutes foiling time and 3 tacks and one gybe. A two-boat testing day is scheduled for tomorrow [Michele Melis AC Recon].