Cup Spy Jan 18: Capsize Day - Swiss capsize - Kiwis go close
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 18 Jan 14:12 PST
18 January 2024
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40 - Day 67 - January 18, 2023 - Jeddah © Alex Carabi / America's Cup
The Swiss had a second day of two-boat testing in AC40s, but capsized one of them. On the Hauraki Gulf, the Kiwis cut a training session short after what appeared to be trim problems arising from flap control issues, with the AC40/LEQ12 coming close to capsizing.
What happened in the Cup - January 18, 2024:
- Emirates Team New Zealand - Sailed one of their AC40s set up as an LEQ12. For the second successive day they appeared to have wing foil control system issues. This time the AC40 appeared to skip across the water, before doing a belly flop, and coming close to a capsize as they rounded head to wind. Fortunately they did not venture out into the America's Cup Course A area where they sailed yesterday, otherwise today's outcome could have been a lot more serious.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing - Capsized an AC-40
- American Magic - No Report
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - No Report
- INEOS Britannia - No Report
- Orient Express Racing Team - No report.
Commentary:
Emirates Team New Zealand - Sailed one of their AC40s set up as an LEQ12. For the second successive day they appeared to have wing foil control system issues. This time the AC40 appeared to skip across the water, before doing a belly flop (starts 7.00 minutes into the Highlights video below).
Fortunately they had not ventured out into the America's Cup Course A area where they sailed yesterday, otherwise today's outcome could have been a lot more serious. The easterly seabreeze was up again on the America's Cup Course A Conditions outside were great if you are a dinghy sailor, but a test for the foilers, with the sea state staying alive overnight and then building as the easterly breeze kicked in during the day.
Where the Kiwis sailed on Course C was ideal foiling conditions - nice steady breeze and flat water.
Nathan Outteridge confirmed that Emirates Team NZ had their final two test foils in the boat. "we're doing a bit of a comparison between the two and getting a good feel of controllability, as well. So far they are going really well."
"We were in control the whole time during that incident. It was a bit of a control system issue today. These things happen from time to time. We managed to get both boards down and spin the boat head to win before having any issues.
"We sat there made an assessment on if we could get the issue fixed, or if we had to bring it back. And unfortunately, today, it was one of those days where we couldn't repair it on the water. So we brought it back in and are having a look at now.
"It's probably still early days on the new [starboard] foil. But overall, it's it's going really well. It's the most important time, in probably the campaign, to get the foils sorted."
AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:
Emirates Team New Zealand - LEQ12 - Day 54 - January 18, 2024 - Auckland
The Emirates Team New Zealand LEQ12 rolled out of the shed at 10:50am to a warm and sunny Thursday in Auckland city.
The shore crew went through their normal rigging processes. However at 11:10am an issue on the Port foil was discovered by one of the Operations Managers. A group of five then took a close look at the foil until a shore crew member came and (from what we could see) fill in and smooth out an imperfection in the foil.
This delayed the crane in time until the hull was finally lifted off its cradle at 11:22am.
The team docked out at 12:04 and proceeded to be towed directly upwind to Mechanics Bay. At 12:17 the tow stopped and the team hoisted the sails putting up a M2-3 and their J3.
The team started sailing on Starboard tack at 12:27pm. The wind built to 15-17 from 32degrees with small harbour chop.
They then proceeded to do a long port tack. Their upwind sailing speed varied from 25 to 32 knots.
At 1239 they dropped off the foils at Browns Island after a bad tack.
At 1244 they were back sailing, it looked like they really struggled to take off on port tack (on the new starboard foil).
At 1247 the team tried to bear away on port. They looked to be out of control until they crashed down. The boat then lifted out of the water again as they put both boards down. The boat then began to do a "wheelie" - skimming very loosely above the water on both foils with their bow high. The boat eventually came down and rounded up into the wind while at the same time heeling over a disconcerting amount. (View 6:45 onwards in highlights)
The team experienced a control issue and made the decision to finish the sailing session after spending a few minutes debriefing with the chase boat.
The jib came down at 12:55 shortly followed by the main. At 1304 the tow line was on and they headed back to base.
The boat was lifted out of the water at 13:55.
Crew:
Peter Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke
Session Statistics: Emirates Team New Zealand - LEQ12 - Day 54 - January 17, 2024 - Auckland
- Weather: 23°C Clearing skies
- Wind Strength: 15-17kts
- Wind Direction: 032°
- Sea State: Flat 0.2mtr
- Distance sailed: 15.8nm
- Session duration: 90 mins (1hr 30m)
- Crane In: 1122hrs Dock Out: 1204hrs
- Dock In: 1330hrs Crane out: 1355hrs
- Total Tacks: 25 - Fully foiling: 20; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 2
- Total Gybes: 23 - Fully foiling: 19; Touch & Go: 4; Touch Down: 1
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 67 - January 18, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their AC40-4 (Red) and AC40-7 (Black) at 08:55 and 09:20 respectively. Routine checks were carried out. A rigger was seen up the mast re-threading a halyard on the Red boat. Crew combinations remained the same as the previous day but swapped boats. Both boats docked out at 12:15, following a 45 minute delay from the original plan.
Stint 1 (12:55 - 13:00)
The teams sailed south to the racing area in front of the Jeddah Waterfront, performing a few warm-up manoeuvres. Sea state was initially relatively flat, but starting to build.
Stint 2 (13:05 - 13:30, 13-17kn 305° @ 13:05)
This stint involved a long upwind leg of split tacks, followed by a tacking duel toward the end. The boats rounded a stationary chase boat, then sailed back downwind, performing split gybes. Notably, the Black boat clipped the starboard start mark, which was then exchanged for a windward gate mark.
Stint 3 (13:40 - 13:55, 13-16kn 315° @ 13:30 , 15-19kn 305° @ 13:40)
As the boats set off, Red nosedived on the bear away and subsequently capsized. The Black boat completed a short upwind/downwind circuit while the red boat was being righted. The wind and a sharp chop started to increase as the stint got underway.
Stint 4 (14:00 - 14:10)
The Red boat was put on a long tow line and an electronics tech jumped on board, spending some time below the foredeck before fitting a new windex on the bowsprit. Meanwhile ?the Black boat started sailing around the area with two boards down, before setting off on another short upwind/downwind.
Stint 5 (14:15 - 14:20, 15-19kn 310° @ 14:15)
Both boats set off, but the red boat stopped shortly after, with a hydraulics tech jumping on board. The crew were also seen looking up the mast. A hydraulics tech boarded the boat. Meanwhile Black continued sailing.
Stint 6 (14:30 - 14:40)
While works continued on the Red boat, the Black boat continued short upwind/downwind sailing, practicing manoeuvres, and more often than not sailing with both boards down.
Stint 7 (14:45 - 14:50, 14-18.5kn 310° @ 14:40)
The Black boat continued with mark rounding practices and approaches to the start line. Electronics and hydraulics techs Matt Kelly and Mathew Leydon continued to work on the Red boat.
Stint 8 (15:20 - 15:30, 18-22kn 310° @ 15:20)
The OD jib was dropped on the black boat. The safety diver was seen below the foredeck, seemingly exchanging batteries before hoisting the new J3-2 LE jib and sailing long stretches upwind and downwind. Further upwind, the Red boat sailed for a short period. The wind increased, averaging 18/19 knots, with gusts measured up to 22 knots, along with an aggressive chop.
Stint 9 (15:35 - 15:45)
Further practice with the LE sail was carried out, performing a couple of leeward mark roundings, one of which was a JK manoeuvre. Meanwhile the Red boat dropped the sails and abandoned sailing.
Stint 10 (15:55 - 16:10)
The Black boat executed a few more manoeuvres and concluded with a sail back to base. The Red boat was towed back to base on foil.
In the post sailing interview, Yves Detrey, port side trimmer of the Red boat, claimed persistent alarms below deck and issues with the HMI, prevented the team from resuming training, hinting at further works to be carried out overnight. The team spent just over four hours on the water, with 110 minutes of sailing time. A total of 69 manoeuvres were observed, with a 90% fully foiling rate.
Crew:Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Nico Charbonnier, Phil Robertson, Bryan Mettraux, Yves Detrey, Jason Waterhouse, Nico Rolaz
Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 67 - January 18, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Weather: 27C°. Sunny
- Wind Strength 13-22kts
- Wind Direction: 305° - 315°
- Sea State: 0.4 - 0.7mtr
- Distance sailed: 46nmnm
- Sailing time: 110mins
- Session duration: 226 mins (3hr 46m)
- Crane In: 0915/0945hrs Dock Out: 1215hrs
- Dock In: 1620hrs Crane out: 1645hrs/1710hrs
- Total Tacks: 37 - Fully foiling: 34; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 0
- Total Gybes: 32 - Fully foiling: 28; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 1
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.