Cup Spy - May 29-30: Light airs for Swiss and Kiwis. Arbitration Panel dismisses US claim
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 30 May 19:53 PDT
31 May 2023
Emirates Team New Zealand - LEQ12 and AC40 - Day 28, May 30, 2023 © Adam Mustill / America's Cup
Alinghi Red Bull Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand were the only Cup teams to train on Monday and Tuesday.
The Arbitration Panel has dismissed American Magic's application to be excused from competition in Jeddah at the end of November.
What happened in the Cup - May 29-30, 2023:
- Emirates Team New Zealand tried sailing two boats, in a match race situation, but were thwarted by light winds. However some sailing was achieved. They expect to be out for the full week, and are out sailing now, Wednesday in a fresh breeze off Takapuna.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed out of Barcelona in their AC40/LEQ12, but were also in light winds and had a shorter session.
- American Magic, last sailed on March 10, and is packing out to make the move to their permanent base in Barcelona. The Arbitration Panel has dismissed their Application to be excused from sailing in the second Preliminary Regatta in Jeddah rom November 30 - December 2. The matter is within the jurisdiction of the Challenger of Record and Defender (COR/D) and will be heard in the first instance by COR/D. It may revert to a further Hearing by the Arb Panel after that. Strong warnings were issued by the Arb Panel over the leaking of information required to be kept confidential.
- INEOS Britannia did not sail.
- Luna Rossa did not sail.
- No further news from the Orient Express Team (formerly K-Challenge).
Emirates Team NZ - LEQ12 and AC40-3(OD) - Day 28 - May 30, 2023 - Auckland
From the AC37 Joint Recon Team [Alastair Moore AC-Recon]:
A lighter than forecast morning delayed dock out for the two boat testing day by an hour.
At 11.30 both the AC40 and the LEQ12 slipped their lines and were taken in tow by their respective chase boats and taken down to Takapuna to bend on sails.
The LEQ12 had her #2 jib on the lock at 12.05 and the M1 at 12.08. The AC40 set her One-Design Main and #1 jib.
At this time the breeze was very soft, less then 5 knots from the NE.
The LEQ12 was off chase at 12.18 but did not start sailing until 12.57 when the NE breeze lifted to 5-7 knots. After three tow ups she came to a stop at 13.25, not enough wind to complete any maneuvers.
At 13.53 she was off chase and this time managed to get her self up and foiling, after several tacks and gybes were completed chase one set a course with top gate and bottom gate/start line.
At 13.58 we had entry for the first prestart practice in very soft breeze around the 6 knot mark. The LEQ12 came off her foils after her second gybe and that gave the AC40 an easy first win. The breeze fell away again and for the next 50 minutes Adam and I watched as they tried towing up three or four times but there was never enough wind to keep them foiling for long.
At 14.40 the breeze lifted enough to have a crack at another pre start. Entry was at 14.43 with the LEQ12 having port entry. The LEQ12 lead back and started mid line on time with the AC40 on time at the boat end. The AC40 was first to tack off and when they came back together was just in front.
Now the breeze eased a little and both boats came off their foils. They continued racing to the top mark in displacement mode with the LEQ12 getting foil borne before the AC40 and winning the race to the top gate.
Here both boats stopped and waited for the breeze to fill back in. At 15.25 both yachts were taken in tow out toward Tiritiri Island looking for the NW breeze filling in from the north but it never arrived.
The call came over the radio at 15.52 that the day was finished and we were to head home.
Back at base by 16.26 with the LEQ12 back in her cradle at 16.53.
Session Statistics - Emirates Team NZ - LEQ12 and AC40-3(OD) - Day 28 - May 30, 2023 - Auckland
- Weather: 15°C Increasing cloud cover
- Wind Strength: 3-7kts
- Wind Direction: NE
- Sea State: Chop
- Roll out: 1046hrs Dock Out: 1130hrs
- Dock In: 1626hrs Crane out: 1651hrs
- Total Tacks: 22 - Fully foiling: 14; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 4
- Total Gybes: 12 - Fully foiling: 10; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 0
Crew: (LEQ12) Nathan Outteridge, Peter Burling, Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke | (AC40) Josh Junior, Leo Takahashi, Sam Meech, Marcus Hansen
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40-4 - Day 28 - May 29, 2023 - Barcelona
From the AC37 Joint Recon team:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40-4 at 07:45 to catch the morning ‘Gregale’ North East light breeze before it was forecast to turn to 'Levante' (East) and drop off. The yacht was prepared for a day of sail and foil testing, with the M1-1 LE and J1-1 LE prepared on deck, and the complex Delta foil on port.
The team docked out at 10:00, spending 50 minutes to set the sails and releasing the towline just outside the port entrance . A takeoff speed of 15kts was estimated, as the team sailed 6NM out to sea to carry out a series of test runs, where they sailed in different modes at varying angles to the wind.
The J1-1 LE jib was replaced with the J1-1 OD for the second ssession, and a similar route was replicated, where the yacht was sailed downwind and after a sharp JK maneuver (round up and tack), back upwind.
By 12:00 the wind started to drop, and at moments the team struggled to keep the yacht in the air before finally they required a tow start to get going again.
Following the assist, the team managed four foiling gybes before touching down on the fifth. Another tow start saw the team sail a further 10 minutes, before an end to the session was called and the yacht was towed back to base.
A total of seven maneuvers were performed (71% fully foiling). The team spent three hours on the water, covering over 37NM. Sailing is scheduled for the rest of the week.
Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 28 - May 29, 2023 - Barcelona
- Wind Strength: 5-8kts
- Wind Direction: ENE
- Weather: Sunny 19°C Sunny
- Sea State: Beaufort Force 2
- Roll out: 0840hrs Dock Out: 1000hrs
- Dock In: 1315hrs Crane out: 1335hrs
- Total Tacks: 2; Fully foiling: 2; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
- Total Gybes: 5; Fully foiling: 3; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis , Nicolas Charbonnier, Lucien Crujean, Nicolas Rolaz
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.