Cup Spy March 2-3: Swiss sail both boats to celebrate 20th Anniversary of Cup win
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-world.com/nz 4 Mar 2023 17:19 NZDT
4 March 2023
AC75 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing - March 2, 2023 - Barcelona - Day 46 © Alex Carabi / America's Cup
What happened in the Cup - March 2-3, 2023:
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing celebrated the 20th anniversary of their victory in the 2003 America's Cup with a team dinner, followed by another sailing session, on March 3, in their new AC40-One Design. On March 2, they intended to sail their relaunched AC75, however after an on-board communication issue was identified, the boat was taken back to the dock without sailing.
- Emirates Team New Zealand did not sail, for the second successive day, due to a lack of wind.
- INEOS Britannia have not yet repaired their LEQ12 after a capsize and battery fire on February 8. They did not sail, and last sailed their AC40 One Design on Match 1, out of Barcelona.
- Luna Rossa also had wind issues, with there being insufficient wind to maintain foiling after a tow-up, let alone try a self-start.
- American Magic have decommissioned their AC75 and are now sailing their new AC-40 One Design.
- Orient Express Team (formerly French K-Challenge) - no update.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40-OD - Barcelona - March 3, 2023 - Day 6
This was just the third sail by the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team in their AC40 in two weeks. However March has got off to a busy start, with Alinghi Red Bull Racing being the only team to attempt sailing on each of the first three days of the month, across the AC40-OD and AC75. With several teams now sailing AC40-OD's it is now possible to gauge the foiling experience levels between the teams - given they are all sailing in different locations. Alinghi Red Bull Racing's dry percentage today was 46%, down from 66% the previous sailing day in a fresher breeze. Other more experienced teams are in the 77-80% mark or higher.
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi rolled out their AC40 at 09:45, stepped the mast and craned in.
Preparations at the dock took almost two hours before docking out at 12:15. Both the mainsail and jib were hoisted in the port, just off the dock.
Sailing commenced at 12:45, starting with the M1 and M2, as the forecast light Garbi came in. The breeze clocked from SSE to SSW as the wind strength gradually increased throughout the session. There was still a residual swell of 1m, opposing the direction of the wind.
Arnaud Psarofaghis , Nicolas Rolaz , Maxime Bachelin and Yves Detrey started in the yacht. Crew swaps were made, however it was not clear which sailors switched and into which positions.
The team sailed well despite the large swell, attempting a total of 28 foiling manoeuvres, with better consistency upwind. It appeared that the sailors were able to “surf” the swell to increase speed and point higher in upwind mode (to be confirmed in a future interview).
The team struggled slightly more downwind, specifically gybing from port to starboard, where the yacht would turn into the direction of the swell. This proved problematic as the wind increased above 10 knots, with the yacht ultimately spinning out as the rudder lifted out of the water.
After the spin out, the team sailed for a short 10 minute stint before calling an end to the session.
When the yacht was craned out, it was noticed that an inspection hatch on the exterior surface of the starboard foil arm had come off during sailing. Sections of the stickers on both starboard and port topsides of the hull, by the foil arm pivot point, ripped off as the yacht touched down during downwind sailing.
The AC75 rolled out just prior to the AC40 docking out. It was kept on the forecourt where it was worked on during the day. The rudder was removed.
Session Statistics - Barcelona, Spain - March 3, 2023 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40-OD - Day 3
- Wind Strength: 5-12kts
- Wind Direction: SSW
- Weather: Sunny 10°C
- Sea State: 1 metre residual swell
- Roll out: 0910hrs Dock Out: 1140hrs
- Dock In: 1615hrs Crane out: 1640hrs
- Total Tacks: 17; Fully foiling: 10; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 3
- Total Gybes: 11; Fully foiling: 3; Touch & Go: 6; Touch Down: 2
- Dry Tack/Gybe % = 46%
Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Maxime Bachelin, Lucien Cujean, Yves Detrey, Bryan Mettraux, Nicolas Charbonnier, Pietro Sibello. Starting Crew : Arnaud Psarofaghis , Nicolas Rolaz , Yves Detrey , Maxime Bachelin
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC75 - Barcelona - March 2, 2023 - Day 46
Alinghi Red Bull Racing were due to have their first sailing session in their re-configured AC75 - the key point of interest being whether the four newly installed crew pits would house cyclists, and how the eight crew would be deployed around the sailing functions. With the mainsail bent onto the rig and hoisted before the tow out in a 1.4 metres swell. However an board communications system broke down before the sailing session could be commenced, and it was decided not to proceed until the issue was fixed.
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out the AC75 from its shed, at 0845hrs.
After stepping the mast, the yacht was craned in alongside chaseboat Alpha, and kept at the dock.
After four hours of tuning systems, the team docked out and hoisted the M1 mainsail in the port. The main was up for just under an hour. It was then dropped and the team returned to the dock. The sails were carried off deck and the team dispersed. According to Steven Robert (Structural Lead) in the interview, the team dealt with on-board communication system issues, and decided to play safe by calling off sailing. A decision was made for a quick tow out and back to test onboard systems.
It was confirmed that the new rudder is an American Magic legacy rudder and elevator. Also confirmed were the addition of cyclor systems in the new interior pods of the Swiss AC75. During tow testing, crew members were assuming the "aero tuck" (or reduced windage) position in the pods.
It is worth noting that two sailors were taken off the yacht for tow testing, so the crew positioning in the cockpit is still yet to be asserted.
During the interview, Steven Robert also confirmed the exposed inspection hatch had simply delaminated. He would not disclose whether the AC40 One Design will be repurposed to become an LEQ12. [Emirates Team NZ and American Magic are running conjoint AC75 and AC40-OD/LEQ12 programs, and it is likely the Swiss will do the same.]
Today, the team also celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Alinghi’s first win of the America's Cup in 2023. A party was thrown in the AC40 tent. Recon not invited.
Session Statistics - Barcelona, Spain - March 2, 2023 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC75 - Day 46
- Wind Strength: 10-12kts
- Wind Direction: SSW
- Weather: Sunny 12°C
- Sea State: Slight
- Roll out: 0910hrs Dock Out: 1140hrs
- Dock In: 1615hrs Crane out: 1640hrs
- Total Tacks: 0; Fully foiling: 0; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
- Total Gybes: 0; Fully foiling: 0; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Yves Detrey, Bryan Mettraux, Nicolas Rolaz , Arthur Cevey , Thery Schir , Barnabe Delarze
This commentary was written and compiled from video, still images and statistical content extracted from the AC37 Joint Recon program and other material available to Sail-World NZ including photo files, and other on the water coverage from the 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2021 America's Cups.
Additional Images: