Cup Spy Nov 16: Luna Rosa hits top speeds. Patriot gets a first sailing workout in Barcelona
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 17 Nov 2023 22:50 NZDT
17 November 2023
Luna Rossa Prad Pirelli - LEQ12 - Day 98 - Cagliari - November 16, 2023 © Ivo Rovira / America's Cup
What happened in the Cup - November 16, 2023:
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Turned in some remarkable speeds in their LEQ12 - hitting AC75 performance numbers upwind and downwind
- American Magic - American Magic stuttered through their sailing session - getting some good foiling time, but suffering technical issues as Patriot's new systems are in their running-in period.
- INEOS Britannia - Did not sail - they had rudder/rudder box issues from the previous day - there is no further comment from the team as to the nature of the damage, or the impact it will have on their testing program.
- Emirates Team New Zealand - Did not sail on Nov 16 (Local time)
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing - Did not sail.
- Orient Express Racing Team - Their AC40 is en route to Jeddah.
- All teams are/have shipped AC40s to Jeddah for the second Preliminary Event at the end of November. No further official update on security concerns.
AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (LRPP) - LEQ12 - November 16, 2023 - Cagliari - Michele Melis AC Recon
The Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 10:10hrs, stepped mast and craned the yacht in by 10:25hrs.
Dockout was scheduled for 11:30hrs and the shore team run through the usual dock checks. An additional anemometer was installed on the bowsprit and some mods were visible on suction side of wing-4. As the yacht was being towed out of the harbour, the northerly shifty breeze from 325° was measured at 13-15kts while main M1-1 and jib J4-1 were being hoisted.
The LEQ12 began its first foiling stint with a tow up on port tack with six crew, tacked and headed downwind for long straightline runs before trimming up on both boards and coming to a stop.
Several shore crew technicians jumped on board and started working on the recently installed anemometer before removing it completely. For the second foiling stint, the LEQ12 was towed up and began sailing upwing on port tack before bearing away once again on the newest wing and heading downwind for a longer run. After one successfull gybe, the LEQ12 executed a JK and pointed upwing on starboard tack.
On the upwind manoeuvre from starboard to port tack, the team seemed to be facing an issue with the FCS as out of several tacks none was fully foiling. Once hullborne, the team continued training with a self take-off on port tack before bearing away and repeating their routine course on the water for several stints. At 13:45hrs the breeze seemed to be dropping slightly to 12-14kn from 345° and the J4-1 was lowered to hoist the J2-2. The yacht then was towed up by chaseboat and sailed for some minutes on starboard tack before suddenly depowering completely the jib for a jib clew check by sailors.
No major as another easy looking self take off on approx. 17-18kn and 75° was then executed. Then the yacht kept on sailing its routine course for two additional stints on the J2 executing two JKs to trim up towards closer to shore with more breeze and less wind chop.
On some occasion, the LEQ12 slowed down until almost coming hullborne before bearing away and accelerating again. Over the whole day, the team looked very quick in the upper wind range, upwind foiling speed of 36-38kts were displayed while 43-45kts downwind. Most of the day was spent on data gathering and perhaps some different presets of cant angles were being tested. Following was recorded for the day: foiling time of 136 minutes, 12 tacks and 11 gybes
[Michele Melis AC Recon].
Session Statistics: Luna Rossa - LEQ12 - November 16, 2023 - Cagliari
- Weather: Sunny 20°C
- Wind Strength 13-15kts
- Wind Direction: 320°-345°
- Sea State: Moderate chop 0.4mtr NNW
- Crane In: 1015hrs Dock Out: 1130hrs
- Dock In: 1455hrs Crane out: 1600hrs
- Total Tacks: 12 - Fully foiling: 7; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 4
- Total Gybes: 11 - Fully foiling: 9; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
Crew: Jimmy Spithill, Francesco Bruni, Andrea Tesei, Umberto Molineris. Swapping with Vittorio Bissaro and Marco Gradoni (on guest seat).
American Magic - AC75 - Day 51 - November 16, 2023 - Barcelona
The American team's third day on the water this week was a mixture of fast windward leeward sailing interspersed with periods of stationary waiting for on board issues to be resolved.
After rolling out shortly after sunrise the American AC75 was rigged and launched by 0825hrs ahead of a slightly delayed dockout at 1039. After leaving the harbour at 1055 the boat was bow-towed to the north east for 10 minutes before sails – MN7 mainsail and J3-6 headsail – were hoisted by 1120.
Like the previous sailing session, the initial take off on port saw the boat skimming the surface in clouds of spray for 20 seconds or so before finally lifting clear of the water. This first flying session lasted five minutes before the boat dropped off the foils on the exit of the first tack. An hour break in proceedings followed this during which support crew carrying both tool bags and laptops went aboard with at least one person disappearing down the front hatch.
The boat was airborne again by 1240hrs for 10 minutes of fast windward / leeward sailing. Another 15 minute session quickly followed during which the boat sailed several long upwind and downwind laps along the shoreline. Gybes looked a little hesitant at times. Tacks looked more assured but there were a couple of touchdowns observed.
The final session of the day started at 1345hrs and lasted around 30 minutes.
Due to an engine issue on the AC37 Joint Recon Team boat, this session was only observed from afar as the boat first headed off on a long downwind run before stopping briefly ahead of the upwind return leg.
Time was called at 1430hrs with the boat back on the dock at 1450hrs. No sailing is planned for tomorrow (Friday November 17).
Report from Sebastian Peri Brusa - AC37 Joint Recon Team
Crew: Paul Goodison, Tom Slingsby, Riley Gibbs, Michael Menninger, Andrew Campbell; John Croom, Madison Molitar, Colten Hall, Tim Hornsby, James Wright
Session Statistics: American Magic - AC75 - Day 51 - November 16, 2023 - Barcelona
- Weather: Sunny 23° C
- Wind Strength: Not reported
- Wind Direction: Not reported
- Sea State: 0.3-0.5mtr
- Crane In: 0825hrs Dock Out: 1039hrs
- Dock In: 1450hrs Crane out: 1520hrs
- Total Tacks: 22 - Fully foiling: 17; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 2
- Total Gybes: 12 - Fully foiling: 5; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 3
Additional Images:
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. Its format is intended to give Sail-World readers a snapshot of all teams' progress on a given day or period.