Cup Spy Mar 8: Comparing the day's AC40 statistics - who was on top?
by Complied by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 10 Mar 2023 00:14 NZDT
10 March 2023
American Magic - AC40 - Day 4 - March 8, 2023 © Paul Todd/America's Cup
Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic both sailed their AC40's - achieving very different statistics for achieving dry tacks and gybes. For the record American Magic turned in a 93% success rate, while Alinghi Red Bull Racing's was much less at 56%. It was American Magic that was sailing in a lighter breeze and arguably had the more difficult task.
What happened in the Cup - March 8, 2023:
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed their AC40 out of Barcelona.
- American Magic sailed their AC40 out of Pensacola. Their AC75 was decommissioned on February 4, after 44 days.
- Luna Rossa did not sail.
- Emirates Team New Zealand did not sail, and are not expected to do so until after the conclusion of SailGP in Christchurch in 10 days.
- INEOS Britannia did not sail their AC40. No update yet on their repairs to their test boat T6 after it capsized and had a lithium battery fire.
- No further news from the Orient Express Team (formerly K-Challenge).
American Magic - AC40 - Pensacola - March 8, 2023 - Day 4
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team:
America was craned in at 0930 and dock out was 1100. All sailing was inshore today.
Prior to dock out the shore crew were observed affixing hook and loop fastener material to either side of the mast, on the aft edges, from deck level up about 18 inches.
The M1 was hoisted at 1120 followed by the J2 at 1130. Sailing began at 1157, America completed 76 maneuvers, covered a distance of approximately 80nm, 24W/L's, and was on foil for 145 minutes total.
Top speeds were approximately 30k upwind and 37k downwind. Sailing concluded at 1603. The team spent a good deal of time sailing the boat with windward heel both up and down wind.
The batteries were replaced, and crew substitutions made at 1445.
The lower batten on the starboard mainsail skin was replaced. Sailing is expected tomorrow, Thursday, March 9.
Session Statistics - Pensacola - March 8, 2023 - American Magic - AC40 - Day 4
- Weather: Sunny 73°F
- Wind Strength 8kts-10kts
- Wind Direction: SE
- Sea State: 1-2ft chop
- Roll out: 0930hrs Dock Out: 1100hrs
- Dock In: 1620hrs Crane out: 1637hrs
- Total Tacks: 48 - Fully foiling: 47; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 28 - Fully foiling: 24; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 1
- Success rate on dry tacks/gybes = 93.4%
Crew: Paul Goodison/ Tom Slingsby/ Riley Gibbs, Lucas Calabrese/ Dan Morris, Andrew Campbell/ Michael Menninger
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40-OD - Barcelona - March 8, 2023 - Day 7
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40 at 06:45, their earliest start yet, with the intention to sail before the forecasted strong SW wind in the afternoon.
The shore crew ran through standard procedures at the dock before hoisting the M1 main and J2 jib in the port. The yacht was towed out of the port and released just outside the entrance to commence sailing immediately.
The team warmed up with two short stints, one downwind and one upwind, with a five minute break to adjust the mainsail clew. The team then sailed a long downwind/upwind stretch, performing 20 foiling manoeuvres in just under an hour, touching the water more often close to the land where there was slightly less wind.
The team struggled to bring down the mainsail due to issues with the Cunningham. By 12:30 the yacht was back in the port and an end to the day was called. A total of 35 nautical miles were covered over almost four hours on the water.
Session Statistics - Barcelona, Spain - March 8, 2023 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40-OD - Day 7
- Wind Strength: 12-17kts
- Wind Direction: SW
- Weather: Sunny 15°C
- Sea State: beaufort 2-3
- Roll out: 0710hrs Dock Out: 0845hrs
- Dock In: 1235hrs Crane out: 1310hrs
- Total Tacks: 18; Fully foiling: 10; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 4
- Total Gybes: 7; Fully foiling: 4; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 0
- Success rate on dry tacks/gybes = 56%
Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Bryan Mettraux, Nico Rolaz
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: