Please select your home edition
Edition
MySail Skipper

America's Cup: Coach Ray Davies explains how chase boat practice works

by Sail-World.com/NZ 25 Feb 2021 16:54 PST 26 February 2021
Emirates Team New Zealand just out of a start against their chase boat - February 21, 2021 - America's Cup 36 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

With the Protocol eliminating the once familiar sight of teams trialing two America's Cup Class yachts against each other, the teams have had to resort to chase boats and simulators to mimic a race situation.

The Challengers have the advantage of race training in the challenger only rounds of the selection series for the Parda Cup. Luna Rossa is the best prepared on the race course with 22 races spanning the America's Cup World Series, and three rounds of the Prada Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand has only had the six races in the America's Cup World Series in December. However the Defender does have the advantage of seeing the performance data from the Prada Cup and can input that into simulators to mimic boat performance and get a view of Luna Rossa's relative performance.

Similarly with startline/racing tactics which can be analysed in the simulator and playbooks developed, along with counter moves. Both Challenger and Defender can test their playbooks on the water against a chase boat.

Here Emirates Team New Zealand coach, Ray Davies explains how it all works. Davies was a co-coach for ETNZ in the 2017 America's Cup win, and is a very experienced Match Racer, being tactician for Dean Barker for many years on the World Match Racing circuit.

Related Articles

Cup Spy May 14: A dull day at the races
In Barcelona Alinghi Red Bull Racing squeezed in an hour of foiling, before the wind died Two teams sailed on Tuesday. In Barcelona Alinghi Red Bull Racing squeezed in an hour of foiling, before the grey skies turned to rain, and killed the wind. In Auckland Emirates Team New Zealand also sailed under grey skies and a fading breeze. Posted on 15 May 100 days until start of America's Cup
Six teams from six nations will contest the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Six teams from six nations will contest the Louis Vuitton America's Cup. Twelve teams from 12 nations will contest the UniCredit Youth America's Cup and the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup. Posted on 14 May Cup Spy May 13: USA makes a benchmark
Light airs may have prevailed in Barcelona. We have the latest gear developments from two teams American Magic and Alinghi Red Bull Racing made the best they could of the breeze available in Barcelona, but it was not sufficient for serious testing. See our new feature "Photos of Interest" spotted by the AC37 Joint Recon teams. Posted on 14 May Cup Spy May 11: Brits put new AC75 to the test
Having hit their stride the Brits seem keen to put some forgettable AC years behind them Having hit their stride the Brits seem keen to put some forgettable years behind them. Today was the AC75 equivalent of quicksand - light airs, with variable pressure, and the Brits, to their credit, were the only team to sail. Posted on 11 May Cup Spy May 10: Arrivederci, Cagliari
It was Luna Rossa's last day of sailing in Cagliari, before moving to their Barcelona base Three teams sailed AC75s off Barcelona on Friday, along with Luna Rossa sailing out of Cagliari Sardinia. It was the last sailing day in Cagliari before they move to the base in Barcelona and begin their workup towards the Louis Vuitton Cup. Posted on 11 May Cup Spy May 9: Testing the wind machine
Luna Rossa have been testing the old and new AC75 wingfoils as they wind down in Cagliari Luna Rossa sailed for the fourth successive day from Cagliari, Sardinia. A point of interest on Thursday was the relative performance of its two wing foils - one to the new AC75 Class Rule, the other a legacy foil used in the 2021 America's Cup. Posted on 10 May Cup Spy May 8: First cross in Barcelona
Three teams sail AC75s off Barcelona on Wednesday, the first opportunity for the teams to tangle Three teams sailed AC75s off Barcelona on Wednesday, the first opportunity for the teams to tangle, and have the inevitable accidental hookup as the Challengers sized up their opposition for the first time. A fourth team Luna Rossa worked up off Cagliari. Posted on 9 May Cup Spy May 3: Brits hit over 40kts
The Brits seemed to have a better day, hitting 40kts on one foiling leg Three teams sailed - two out of Barcelona - Alinghi Red Bull Racing, and INEOS Britannia. And, the other - Luna Rossa - sailed out of Cagliari. The Brits seemed to have a better day, hitting 40kts on one foiling leg. Posted on 8 May Cup Spy May7: American Magic - 'best day yet'
Team boss, Terry Hutchinson describes American Magic's splash, launch sail as "our best day yet" New York Yacht Club's American Magic has revealed their new AC75 and completed the launch, tow-test, sail and tack in Barcelona. The AC75 has several intriguing design features, including an intriguing crew cockpit arrangement. Posted on 8 May America's Cup: American Magic splash and sail
American Magic sailed Tuesday revealing an interesting deck layout including aft facing cyclors American Magic rolled out their new AC75 at 5.45am on Tuesday, with the first set of slightly asymmetric race foils, rudder and rig all in place and revealing an interesting deck layout putting the helms and trimmers side by side and well forward. Posted on 8 May
ETNZ-STORE-728X90 two BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd - For the Obsessed
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2024 Sail-World Sail-World USA and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy