Cup Spy: Feb 10 - Brits and Swiss roll out AC40 OD's
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 11 Feb 2023 05:37 PST
12 February 2023
INEOS Britannia - AC40 - roll out and mast stepping - February 10, 2023 © Ugo Fonolla / America's Cup
A day after capsizing their LEQ12 test boat, INEOS Britannia has rolled out their AC40 one design, and stepped the mast at the team base in Mallorca.
In Barcelona, the Swiss team, Alinghi Red Bull Racing have done the same.
The British were the second to take delivery of their yacht, which will be used by teams for practice racing, and in specific events including the new Youth America's Cup and Womens America's Cup regattas.
The Brits LEQ12 test boat was also spotted in the team compound, with its foil arms removed, and presumably other gear, ahead of a repair and scheduled upgrade program. The upgrade program was scheduled to last for three weeks.
The AC40-One Design can only be sailed in one design mode, and cannot have any item of equipment transferred across from their LEQ12.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rig new AC40 and splash their AC75 - February 10, 2023 - Day 43
Alinghi Red Bull Racing was the first team to start sailing in the 2024 America's Cup cycle, and to date the team has been sailing an AC75 purchased from Emirates Team New Zealand, and then upgraded.
The AC37 Joint Recon team reports that Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC75 at 08:45, followed by the AC40 at 11:00. After a week indoors due to a North Easterly storm, the team kept ashore with conditions on the water less than ideal - light wind and 1m residual swell. The shore crew was split in two, to work on the yachts separately.
The AC75 had its mast stepped and the yacht was craned into the water, spending the day tied up alongside the primary chase boat.
A series of systems tests were carried out, including; raising and lowering the arms, rotating the mast, and mainsail skin actuators. The central actuator has been removed, though it is not clear if the team have simply removed it for the day, or intend on moving the ram from the sail to the deck and using a mainsheet to the skin actuators, similar to that of Luna Rossa and American Magic. The original main actuator was not seen on the deck, however what appears to be a replacement was brought out, though its function and location could not be confirmed. The team spent a total of seven hours working on the AC75.
Meanwhile on the forecourt, the AC40 was rolled out of its tent and its mast stepped. The crew spent the day setting up the rig and finding base settings for the stays. The yacht, together with rigging and appendages, was lifted by the crane to test the lifting points and the procedure as a whole. The mast was brought back down to adjust for some teething issues, before being stepped back on the yacht. Rig settings were finalised and the yacht was rolled back into the tent. The team spent a total of five hours working on the AC75.
INEOS Britannia roll out AC40 February 10, 2023 - AC40 - Day 1
The AC Recon Team assigned to INEOS Britannia reports that the British team have rolled out their AC40 for the first time to step the rig and carry out a series of load tests.
After rolling the boat out of the shed at 0915, the rig was set in place after the boat had been meticulously leveled using hydraulic jacks.
A four person team including rig manager, Bryce Ruthenberg and boat captain Chris Schirmer, loaded the boat up using its hydraulic mainsheet system attached to the masthead by twin lines.
Initially the rig was loaded slowly in increments of 500 kg to 4500 kg, while the four on deck listened carefully for any tell tale noises from the mast or boat.
With that test successfully concluded the load was dropped to zero and then stepped back up more quickly in increments of 1,000 kg.
The rig was then unstepped and the shore crew appeared to be checking the shrouds for any sign that they were twisted. The mast was then restepped for two hours of measurement/calibration followed by an hour long session of sighting the mast from the stern using a theodolite.
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.