Cup Spy - April 20: American Magic ventures into Gulf of Mexico
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 23 Apr 2023 21:06 AEST
23 April 2023
American Magic - AC40 - Day 24 - April 20, 2023 - Pensacola Bay © Paul Todd/America's Cup
What happened in the Cup - April 20, 2023:
- American Magic was towed offshore to sail their AC40 in a 2-4ft swell and in moderate winds. The US team seemed to focus on getting a greater ratio of tacks in than gybes - doing three times the number of tacks to gybes. Their dry tack percentage was well down (75%), possibly due to in experience with the AC40 in this sea state.
- Luna Rossa sailed from Cagliari, in a building breeze and very pleasant sailing conditions. The Italians were sailing with six crew, with the extra two crew probably having an impact on the LEQ12's ability to self-start its foiling, needing to be towed up on one occasion. But towards the end of the session the breeze came up to 18kts, with an accompanying sea-state, but there were no further issues.
- Emirates Team New Zealand sailed for the third successive day in the seabreeze which has been blowing for a full week. There were no incidents reported. The waterfront gossip has it that the AC75 is hitting 55kts or more - maybe not surprising in the steady windstrength of 18kts plus. Whether that is a bearaway speed spike, or a steady sailing speed is not known. The AC75 is sailing with legacy (2021Cup) wingfoils and the speed at which these are cavitating, and indeed how ETNZ's test foils on their 40fter are behaving in this regard remains as one of the intriguing questions of the campaign to date.
- INEOS Britannia sailed their 40ft test boat in a good breeze at the start of their session, getting some good rides, and staying foilborne for 50 minutes at one juncture. The breeze faded to 10kts later in the day bringing the session to an end.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed their AC40 One Design out of Barcelona, again in a great sailing breeze, and were able to put in 33 tacks and gybes, and achieving a dry tack/gybe percentage of 94% which is the standard that top teams should be able to achieve in the One Designs.
- No further news from the Orient Express Team (formerly K-Challenge).
American Magic - AC40 - Day 24 - April 20, 2023 - Pensacola
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team:
America craned in at 08:45, the pre dock out operations were completed, and the AC40 docked out at 10:00.
She was immediately towed 5nm offshore. The sea state consisted of an underlying 2-4ft swell with a period of 4 seconds with an overlaying confused chop. Today was the first time off-shore with the most recent revision of the starboard foil.
The crew opted for the J3 and sailing began at 10:58. For the first part of the day it was difficult for the chase boats to keep up.
Sailing during this time consisted of long phases on one board, until 11:30 when a particularly nasty bow stuff occurred. This crash down looked different as the elevator did not appear to cavitate, rather it looked as if the AC40 went through the wave (not into it).
The team switched out for the J2 and substituted Andrew Campbell (first time on helm per interview) for Riley Gibbs.
The wind decreased steadily throughout the day as the team switched to the J1 at 13:15. The batteries were changed at 13:15.
The breeze was down to around 7k for the remainder of the afternoon. The sea state greatly improved by around 14:00.
The crew continued with the long runs on one board until and end to sailing was called at 15:13.
In all, America completed 31 maneuvers, 5 W/L's, sailed approximately 57nm, and had a total flying time of 103 minutes.
Top speeds were approximately 24k upwind and 30k downwind.
Session Statistics: American Magic - AC40 - Day 24 - April 20, 2023 - Pensacola
- Weather: Sunny 80 degrees F
- Wind Strength 9kts-14kts
- Wind Direction: SE
- Sea State: 2-4ft Swell
- Roll out: 0845hrs Dock Out: 1000hrs
- Dock In: 1600hrs Crane out: 1630hrs
- Total Tacks: 24 - Fully foiling: 17; Touch & Go: 6; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 7 - Fully foiling: 6; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 1
- Dry Tack/Gybe percentage = 74%
Crew: Paul Goodison, Riley Gibbs, Lucas Calabrese, Michael Menninger, Andrew Campbell
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - LEQ12 - Day 52 - April 20, 2023 - Cagliari
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team - Michele Melis:
The LRPP team rolled out their LEQ12 prototype at 11:30, stepped the mast and craned in undergoing the usual protocol checks before dockout again scheduled for 13:00.
The southerly seabreeze had already filled in in the harbour when the usual FCS, rudder rake and sail controls were being tested. Exiting the harbour the team found steady southerly seabreeze of 12-14 kts according to the AC37 Joint Recon Team (RU) anemometer held 2m above waterline.
The sea state condition seemed quite interesting in terms of AC venue comparison, with longer period swell 6-7s and 1.5m height from SE hence slightly offsetted to TWS direction at the beginning of the sailing session.
The main M2 had been locked in the mast fitting and once fully hoisted, it has been paired again with the J2 jib.
Similar to previous days, throughout the sailing session, the LEQ12 was boarded with six crews including two engineers and a youth sailor later on. With a tow-to-fly by Chase 2, the prototype was foiling on port tack before falling off the foils - exiting the first tack hitting a wave crest. Then, by help of a first light pull by Chase 2 to gain initial boat speed, the LEQ12 self took off on starboard tack.
The sailing pattern of the previous sailing day was again noted by AC37 Joint Recon team as the prototype tacked back on portside tack, sailed straight line for a while before bearing away and heading downwind.
This routine was observed twice before, once splashing down after a gybe. The J2 was lowered to hoist the smaller J4. The wind had increased to 16-18kn and now shifted to SE matching the swell direction which has also increased in magnitude. Once up and flying performing a self take-off on a reaching course skimming on waves, the LEQ12 headed slightly offshore before bearing away towards the harbour to lower the J4 and call it a day.
As it was quite challenging to keep up for all chase boats, the RU was placed anticipating the prototypes course for steadier footage. An approx total foiling time of 67 minutes, 5 tacks and 3 gybes were counted.
Session Statistics: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - LEQ12 - Day 52 - April 20, 2023 - Cagliari
- Weather: Cloudy 14-20 degreesC
- Wind Strength 12-18kts
- Wind Direction: SSE
- Sea State: 1.5mtrs Beaufort 5
- Roll out: 1145hrs Dock Out: 1300hrs
- Dock In: 1520hrs Crane out: 1700hrs
- Total Tacks: 5 - Fully foiling: 3; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 3 - Fully foiling: 2; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 0
Crew: Francesco Bruni, Marco Gradoni, Jimmy Spithill, Andrea Tesei Umberto Molineris, Vittorio Bissaro
Emirates Team NZ - AC75 - Day 14 - April 20, 2023 - Auckland
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team:
The AC75 was out of the shed and on the docks edge before 10.00, lifted from her cradle and swung into the pen at 10.10.
The M2 [mainsail] was loaded at the dock and at 12.30 she was slipped from her berth and taken in tow out to Mechanics Bay (just inside the harbour entrance)to bend on sails.
The main was hoisted and now some time (50 min) was taken with technicians and engineers coming and going aboard and down below. At 13.24 in 14-16 knots of NE breeze Te Rehutai got sailing with J5 and M2 set. She did three tacks to clear Rough Rock (just north of North Head) and headed out towards the shipping channel entrance. After four short windward leewards, at 13.48 she came to a stop and the J5 was swapped out for the J4.
At 13.58 she started sailing again and did another five windward leewards around a short virtual course of about 2NM. Looking in control and fast with noticeably less bow up sailing down wind than in previous days.
At 14.22 the yacht came to a stop for a power group rotation, in this pause Adam [Mustill] cross referenced photos and worked out the yacht is running a new longer rudder. Big sea state option?
At 15.23 Te Rehutai was sailing again doing longer runs out to sea on the wind on starboard and running in on port.
The yacht looked very smooth and efficient throughout this session.
When close a new sound coming from inside the yacht was heard, hydraulic pressure noises. At 15.43 after a flat out reach and run she came to a stop off Mechanics Bay and doused sails. She was back on the dock at the base at 16.20.
[Report: Alastair Moore AC-Recon]
Session Statistics - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 - Day 14 - April 20, 2023 - Auckland
- Weather: 23 degreesC 20% cloud cover, Sunny
- Wind Strength: 2-22kts
- Wind Direction: NE
- Sea State: 1.5mtr
- Roll out: 1008hrs Dock Out: 1230hrs
- Dock In: 1620hrs Crane out: 1640hrs
- 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: 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 38 - April 20, 2023 - Mallorca
Top sailing journalist, Justin Chisholm was on the water and made various observations on the British boat:
More classic southerly sea breeze conditions prevailed today on Palma Bay with the wind topping out at 13 knots in the afternoon and kicking up a slight chop for the British team's third consecutive day of sailing this week.
Spotted at launch was the removal of the underwater tell tales from the starboard W-foil.
The team docked out a couple of minutes behind schedule at 1232 but a slick mainsail and J2-1 hoist process outside the harbour had the silver T6 LEQ12 off its chase boat side tow by 1300 ready to make the most of the nascent sea breeze ramping up quickly from 180 degrees.
T6 was airborne soon after and - other than a couple of minor touch downs - stayed comfortably in the air for almost an hour - with plenty of windward heel and bustle skimming in evidence - before splashing down on port tack upwind when the starboard W-foil broke surface.
The boat was back in the air almost immediately but splashed down again a few minutes later. The British crew - helmsmen Giles Scott and Dylan Fletcher with trimmers/flight controllers Bleddyn Mon and Luke Parkinson - popped the yacht straight back up in the air and stayed there for another 50 minutes before splashing down again upwind on starboard while sailing in high mode.
It was a strange splashdown to observe as the boat seemed to end up past head to wind with the headsail fully backed. After another 15 minutes of sailing, the team stopped for a battery change while coach Rob Wilson set up a windward leeward course. After four laps of this course and with the breeze dropping slowly to 10 knots the crew set off on a fast reach back to the mouth of the harbour where sails were dropped by 1700. Dock in was a 1715.
Session Statistics: INEOS Britannia - LEQ12 - Day 38 - April 20, 2023 - Mallorca
- Weather: Sunny 18 degrees - 20 degrees C
- Wind Strength 9-11kts Flat sea
- Wind Direction: 190 degrees
- Roll out: 1110hrs Dock Out: 1232hrs
- Dock In: 1710hrs Crane out: 1740hrs
- Total Tacks: 26 - Fully foiling: 23; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
- Total Gybes: 22 - Fully foiling: 20; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
Crew: Giles Scott, Dylan Fletcher, Bleddyn Mon, Luke Parkinson
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 21 - April 20, 2023 - Barcelona
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40 at 08:10, anticipating the strong wind forecast to start at midday.
By 10:00, the team docked out and the sails were hoisted in port. The wind strength increased fairly quickly and by midday, the wind was averaging 16 knots, with gusts up to 18 knots.
The sea grew into an aggressive chop very quickly, making it difficult for the boats chasing to keep up with the yacht, which was able to fly above.
The sailors warmed up with a downwind and a lap around a windward/leeward course, followed by bear aways/heading up, mark roundings and a few tacks/gybes.
After 35 minutes, the first sailing phase was paused to exchange the J2 for the J3 and adjustment of the mainsail clew/mainsheet system, as well as the jib tack.
The second phase saw long legs upwind and downwind, with the yacht getting airborne on two occasions, both when heading upwind from downwind.
The speed downwind was estimated to be around 42 knots when the recon boat managed to keep up alongside for a short period of time in the flatter water close to the Badalona shore.
As the yacht continued towards Montgat, the conditions grew increasingly more difficult for the chase boats and recon to keep up.
The third sailing phase commenced after the second crash, as the team took 10 minutes to collect themselves. They sailed a long upwind south to the freeport, followed by another short downwind and upwind back to the port.
Canada SailGP skipper Phil Robertson made an appearance at the base and joined for the day on Chase Alpha, however it was confirmed in the interview with Yves Detrey that he was just visiting, and has no involvement in the team.
In post sailing discussion with sailors, it was admitted that they could have achieved higher speeds, though they were focusing on sailing at low angles.
In just over three hours on the water, they covered over 56 NM and performed a total of 33 maneuvers, 94% fully foiling, their second most consistent day with respect to maneuver quality. But it was a wet and bumpy day for those chasing the AC40.
Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 21 - April 20, 2023 - Barcelona
- Wind Strength: 13 - 18kts -'Garbi' thermal wind
- Wind Direction: SSW
- Weather: Sunny 15 degreesC Intermittent cloud.
- Sea State: Beaufort 1-3
- Roll out: 0835hrs Dock Out: 1000hrs
- Dock In: 1320hrs Crane out: 1340hrs
- Total Tacks: 17; Fully foiling: 17; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
- Total Gybes: 16; Fully foiling: 14; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 0
- Dry Tack/Gybe percentage = 94%
Crew: Nicolas Charbonnier, Maxime Bachelin, Yves Detrey, Nicolas 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. Its format is intended to give Sail-World readers a snap shot of all teams' progress on a given day, or period.
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