Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40 at 11:00 in anticipation of the late afternoon breeze.
They craned it by 11:30 and docked out at 13:30 just after switching the J1 for the J2.
The wind was relatively as forecast, with a 10kn breeze slowly clocking and increasing from South East ('Xaloc'), peaking at 14 knots from South South East at about 15:30, then dying back to 10knots. A ground swell built from the East, reaching almost 1m with a short 4-5 second period, made it difficult for the chase ribs and the recon vessel to keep up with the sailing yacht.
Sailing commenced just out of the Port entrance, with a reach out and long downwind to the Forum District, where they continued on two long upwind/downwind loops. The team then spent the rest of the day drilling pre starts and upwind/downwind legs, using the Chase Alpha as a windward mark.
A difference in the foil arms was noted (the rivets/fasteners are now exposed again), though when prompted in the interview, it was confirmed that no changes to the One Design yacht have yet been made.
This was a strong day on the water for the team. They put together 85 maneuvers, 86% fully foiling, and covered more than 40NM over a three hour session.
After several stormy Mastrale days, the LRPP team found a good window and rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 11:15, stepped the mast and craned in starting the usual protocol checks.
While the LEQ12 was sitting in the cradle, some changes were noticed by RU: new/different fittings at mast base, Go-pro cases on suction and pressure sides of PS wing while the ride height sensor aft on PS has been removed. The sailors checks testing each sail control device/button seemed to last longer than usually.
Dockout was scheduled at 13:00 and right before that, the main M1 was locked in the mast fittings. Exiting the harbour the team found some rest breeze of the usual morning Maestrale not exceeding 5 knots.
Before awaiting the seabreeze to hoist sails, an electronic issue had to be fixed below deck by shore crew lasting several hours.
Exactly as suggested by forecast model, the southerly seabreeze from S-SSW has started to fill in at 14:00 increasing and shifting in the following hours.
At 16:00 the issue seemed to be fixed and the LEQ12 was towed towards La Sella del Diavolo to fully hoist the mainsail. However the enviroment conditions have changed significantly with pressure shifted to SE measuring 15-17kn with guts up to 25kn along with the "usual" significant and sudden chop coming from SE.
The mainsail has been fully hoisted at 16:10 and lowered shortly after to head back to base.
- Weather: Cloudy 16 degreesF
- Wind Strength 5-20kts
- Wind Direction: NW Maestrale (Mistral), S, SE breeze
- Sea State: 1.3mtrs Beaufort 5
- Roll out: 1130hrs Dock Out: 1300hrs
- Dock In: 1700hrs Crane out: 1830hrs
- Total Tacks: 8 - Fully foiling: 5; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 7 - Fully foiling: 6; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 0
Crew: Francesco Bruni,Jimmy Spithill, Andrea Tesei Umberto Molineris
American Magic - AC40 - Day 23 - April 18, 2023 - Pensacola
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team:
The AC40 was rolled out, rigged, and launched in record time of 30 minutes.
The guys with laptops were aboard at 11:30 while the shore crew were busy packing and moving containers.
America began sailing at 12:50 in 7k of breeze.
The AC40 struggled to take flight in the light conditions but again did not resort to tow ups. Instead she sailed in displacement mode (over 20 minutes at times) until the conditions were conducive for take off.
Once foil borne the AC40 sailed the familiar long runs on one board. The crew took a 30 minute lunch break at 13:26 as the breeze filled in slightly. By 15:00 the breeze was a steady 9k allowing for much sharper maneuvers and longer foiling stints.
The final 30 minutes of the day were filled with back to back tacks and gybes, with only a few seconds in between.
The majority of the day's maneuvers were competed in that time.
The agenda for the day seemed to include performing self ups in lighter breeze.
The end of the days sailing was called at 16:05. In all, America completed 67 maneuvers, 10 W/L's, sailed approximately 55nm, and had a total flying time of 105 minutes.
Top speeds were approximately 24k upwind and 30k downwind.
Session Statistics: American Magic - AC40 - Day 23 - April 18, 2023 - Pensacola
- Weather: Cloudy 70 degrees F
- Wind Strength 7-9kts
- Wind Direction: S (PM)
- Sea State: 1ft
- Roll out: 1115hrs Dock Out: 1225hrs
- Dock In: 1620hrs Crane out: 1640hrs
- Total Tacks: 30 - Fully foiling: 11; Touch & Go: 14; Touch Down: 5
- Total Gybes: 37 - Fully foiling: 33; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 1
Crew: Paul Goodison, Riley Gibbs, Lucas Calabrese, Michael Menninger, Andrew Campbell
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - LEQ12 - Day 50 - April 18, 2023 - Cagliari
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team - Michele Melis:
The LRPP team rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 10:00, stepped the mast and craned in undergoing the usual protocol checks in addition to some alignment calibration using an aluminium bar across beam on mast base, regions in which some changes were recently noticed.
The new PS foil wing was still armed with Go-Pros in- and outboard on suction and pressure sides along span. As usual, after FCS checks, the sailors tested carefully each sail control device/button on starboard and portside. As dockout was scheduled at 12:00, the main M2 was locked in the mast fittings.
Exiting the harbour the team found some dying Maestrale breeze before the southerly S breeze of 7-10kn. The main was then fully hoisted with the J1.5 as foresail. For the first foiling stint of 15 minutes the prototype hosted 6 crews including two VIP guests Andrea & Roberto Lacorte from PharmaNutra/Cetillar collaborating with LRPP.
During the whole sailing session, the prototype has been observed several times sailing on two boards on different TWAs, slowing down until lifting the windward board up gaining speed again. After the first foiling stint, the southerly seabreeze had increased further to 13-15kn and the team changed foresail hoisting the J2. During the next half hour foiling stint, the LEQ12 has been observed executing a quick series of maneuvers along with some JKs paired to some straight line sailing on starboard tack heading towards La Sella del Diavolo before heading back on the westerly side of the gulf.
Afterwards a break followed and the LEQ12 was back on tow-line for an in-water removal of both Go-Pro cases placed on PS wing out of which one could not be removed entirely. Now two CFD & VPP engineers boarded the joyrides seats to monitor the foil wings behavior in real time swapping occasionally sides.
When the LEQ12 was released from the tow, a smooth self take off was recorded while Chase2 laid out the usual race course. A total of 3 start practices at the leeward gate were observed along with 6 legs.
The seabreeze decreased around 15:00 and if maneuvers resulted in splash downs, the prototype was towed up again on several occasions. An approx total foiling time of 122 minutes, 20 tacks and 14 gybes were counted for the day.
Session Statistics: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - LEQ12 - Day 50 - April 18, 2023 - Cagliari
- Weather: Sunny 14-20 degreesC
- Wind Strength 7-15kts (AM) 15-18kts (PM)
- Wind Direction: S
- Sea State: Beaufort 3
- Roll out: 1020hrs Dock Out: 1200hrs
- Dock In: 1605hrs Crane out: 1730hrs
- Total Tacks: 20 - Fully foiling: 13; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 4
- Total Gybes: 14 - Fully foiling: 8; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 3
Crew: Francesco Bruni, Jimmy Spithill, Marco Gradoni, Andrea Tesei, Umberto Molineris, Vittorio Bissaro
Emirates Team NZ - AC75 - Day 12 - April 18, 2023 - Auckland
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team [Alastair Moore AC-Recon]:
Te Rehutai was on the docks edge by 10.00, with rig up in a blustery NE breeze gusting to 26 knots at the base.
She was swung into the pen at 10.34. Side towed from her berth at 11.30, once outside the breakwater the yacht was taken in tow by Chase 2 for the trip down the harbour to just East of Northern leading beacon where she stopped to bend on M2 main and J5 jib.
The main was on the lock at 10.57 quickly followed by the jib at 12.01. Setting off on port tack heading for Browns Island the yacht spent about 4-5 minutes in displacement mode with the sails looking a bit out of whack. She eventually got foil borne and boosted toward Motuihe Island when the yacht came to a stop for a few minutes at 12.13 and three people were observed inspecting/adjusting the jib tack.
At 12.20 she was sailing again firstly with short runs up and down wind on port before hardening up and beating into the mouth of Huruhi Bay Waiheke Island. The yacht stopped here for 8 minutes and then did two short laps of the "Back Paddock" (Course E) before turning for Rangitoto at ridiculous speed.
We caught up with the AC75 and Chase 1 off Narrow Neck beach at 13.18. Te Rehutai set off from the chase boat again at 13.33 and beat out towards A buoy and the inner pilotage area.
There was a moderate sea state with 1.4-2m swells with 6-7.5 second periods. The best speed the recon boat could manage up wind was under 20 knots and downwind no more than 30.
The race yacht did two windward leeward laps with some big splash downs especially after a gybe observed. She pointed her bows back toward Narrow Neck beach and came to stop at 14.08.
A few minutes later the J5 was dropped. At 14.45 the J4 was hoisted and Te Rehutai headed back out towards "A Buoy" at 14.50.
Here the recon team watched the yacht go through 4 windward leeward laps from "A Buoy" in towards Takapuna/Milford.
Due to the conditions we stayed around the bottom of the course, with the bigger headsail she looked to have more control out of the gybes but still a few big splash downs observed.
The yacht headed for home and was dropping sails of Mechanics Bay at 15.41.
A long solid day with a mix of sea and wind conditions, wind middle to upper and sea large at times.
Session Statistics - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 - Day 12 - April 18, 2023 - Auckland
- Weather: 22 degreesC 20% cloud cover, Sunny
- Wind Strength: 12kts
- Wind Direction: SSW
- Sea State: Slight
- Roll out: 1110hrs Dock Out: 1200hrs
- Dock In: 1615hrs Crane out: 1627hrs
- Total Tacks: 36 - Fully foiling: 30; Touch & Go: 5; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 37 - Fully foiling: 34; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 0
Crew: (LEQ12) Nathan Outteridge, Peter Burling, Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke, Simon Van Velthooven, Marius Van Der Pol, Louis Sinclair, Louis Crosby, Hamish Bond, Marcus Hansen, Sam Meech
INEOS Britannia - LEQ12 - Day 36 - April 18, 2023 - Mallorca
Top sailing journalist, Justin Chisholm was on the water and made various observations on the British boat:
INEOS Team Britannia made the most of a five hour session out on the waters of Palma Bay today.
The session was conducted in idyllic sailing conditions with 8-10 knots of breeze and a flat to very slight chop sea state.
The British T6 silver LEQ12 test boat was rolled out promptly at 1000 and some efficient work by the shoreside team saw the boat rigged and launched inside 40 minutes ready for the crew - helmsmen Giles Scott and Dylan Fletcher with trimmers/flight controllers Leigh McMillan and Iain Jensen - to dock out a fraction after 1200.
Two modifications were spotted - a sensor or camera fitted on the underside of the bulb on the starboard inverted-W foil, and a pair of short parallel horizontal stripes on the bow end of the boat's bustle. Once outside the harbour the mainsail and J2-1 were quickly hoisted and the boat was in flight in the residual north east land breeze by 1235.
The first session lasted around 40 minutes during which the crew appeared to once again be experimenting with ride heights as they skimmed the bottom of the bustle off the water's surface. Shortly after this session finished the southerly sea breeze began to establish itself and the yacht was towed south for 15 minutes to find the strongest steadiest area.
After another 20 minute flying session T6 was bow towed downwind for five minutes before breaking off into downwind flying mode for around 20 minutes of sailing dry laps of the bay.
After stopping for a battery change and with the southerly breeze now fully established the British crew launched into a relentless one hour and ten minute flight session that saw them span the Bay of Palma east sand west as they tore around a dizzying series of windward leeward laps.
There were tacks and gybes a plenty - with the vast majority carried out foil to foil - and a fair amount of time spent apparently experimenting with windward heel.
The crew looked like they could carry this on indefinitely but time was called off Palam Cathedral at just after 1530.
Sails were down within 15 minutes and the team docked in to their Porta Pi base at 1715.
On the dock the mood seemed upbeat after what we believe to have been a valuable day of testing for the British syndicate.
Session Statistics: INEOS Britannia - LEQ12 - Day 36 - April 18, 2023 - Mallorca
- Weather: Sunny 19 degrees - 20 degrees C
- Wind Strength 7-10kts Flat sea
- Wind Direction: 200 degrees
- Roll out: 1040hrs Dock Out: 1200hrs
- Dock In: 1715hrs Crane out: 1855hrs
- Total Tacks: 19 - Fully foiling: 15; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 2
- Total Gybes: 22 - Fully foiling: 19; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 2
Crew Giles Scott, Dylan Fletcher, Iain Jensen, Leigh McMillan
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 20 - April 18, 2023 - Barcelona
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40 at 10:00, with flat sea forecast and light wind forecast for the afternoon. The yacht was craned in and ready for dock out within two hours.
The sails were hoisted just off the dock and the yacht was released just outside the port entrance. The swell from the previous day died completely, and the wind filled in just after midday, averaging around 8 knots throughout the session.
The team took the opportunity of calm conditions to carry out testing different sailing modes; pitch up/down, heel and foil cant. The day was split in two stints. The first stint lasted an hour and a half, where the team sailed long legs in all directions going through different modes. The second stint lasted an hour and three quarters, with the sailors continuing to go through different modes on long stretches for an hour, before sailing a four mile upwind starting from the Forum.
They tacked every 1-2 minutes, completing 15 tacks in the dying wind, almost all fully foiling. After turning downwind, they managed seven gybes, touching down on the last gybe and struggled to regain flight after that, as they headed back to base.
When looking through footage, it was noted that for a short period of time, the yacht was sailed with the jib centre sheeted while sailing upwind. Will discuss in next interview.
The team spent four hours on the water, covering over 67NM and completed a total of 40 maneuvers, 83% fully foiling.
Unfortunately the card from the photo camera was corrupted; we were not able to recover the RAW files and interview with Maxime Bachelin, however the.jpegs were recovered in a smaller file format. As a result, the time on the.jpegs are from the time of recovery, not real time.
Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 20 - April 18 2023 - Barcelona
- Wind Strength: 6-8kts
- Wind Direction: SSE
- Weather: Sunny 15 degreesC
- Sea State: Beaufort 2
- Roll out: 1035hrs Dock Out: 1200hrs
- Dock In: 11600hrs Crane out: 1625hrs
- Total Tacks: 25; Fully foiling: 20; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 15; Fully foiling: 13; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
- Dry Gybe/tack success percentage 82.5%
Crew: Maxime Bachelin, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Bryan Mettraux, Lucien Cujean
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 snap shot of all teams' progress on a given day, or period.