AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:

Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for four more days of testing during their final test bloc in the Kingdom. The other five teams did not sail in testing mode in this period. Following is a combined [edited] report from the AC37 Joint Recon team covering this period in Jeddah.

AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 87 - March 18, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Alinghi Red Bull Racing's AC40-4 (Red) and AC40-7 (Black) were left on the forecourt overnight. The two yachts were craned in by 07:20 hrs for the team's last sailing day in Jeddah for this campaign.

After standard systems checks and further mast rotation and traveller testing, the team docked out at 08:30hrs with the same crew combination as yesterday.

Sails were hoisted as the Red boat set off and completed a tack and gybe, with the wind quickly increasing. Meanwhile, Black was released from the towline and capsized immediately, prompting Red to stop as the team focused on neutralising the situation. The decision was made to drop sails and return to base, as both boats were back on the towline, with Red capsizing just before dropping the jib. Red was righted, and the the team safely returned to base.

The team docked in at 10:00 hrs and proceeded to check systems and sails before deciding to resume sailing in the afternoon. The team docked out again at 12:30 hrs, as the boats were towed to the Red Sea. After an hour of standing by on the water, waiting for the winds to decrease, sails were hoisted again for a single phase of sailing.

Session 2 (13:40 – 14:35, 15-20kts from 105°) The boats engaged in an upwind/downwind free sailing warm-up separately ahead of racing. Start 1 saw both boats battle above the line with 10 seconds to go, as Black was able to get below the line in time, but it is uncertain whether Red was OCS or clear. Start 2 continued into a two lap race, with Red starting on time, as Black undershot the leyline to the start, apparently due to issues with wind instruments incurred in the capsize earlier in the day. Red covered Black throughout the two laps, as Black attempted to sail on opposite sides and capitalise on the big shifts, but were unable to catch up, seeing Red win the race.

The team returned to base and ended the day, docking in at 14:50hrs. The training and testing program in Jeddah wrapped up with the boats craned out by 15:35hrs after spending just under four hours on the water, of which 60 minutes were spent actively sailing. The Red Boat executed 45 manoeuvres, achieving a 91% dry foiling rate.

[Report from: Jose L. Piñana AC Recon/Edited by S-W NZ]

Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Nico Charbonnier, Bryan Mettraux, Dean Barker, Phil Robertson, Nico Rolaz, Nico Charbonnier

Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 87 - March 18, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Weather: 35° Sunny
• Wind Strength: 15-29kts
• Wind Direction: 105°-130°
• Sea State: 0.4mtr SE
• Dock Out: 0830hrs
• Dock In: 1000hrs and 1450hrs
• Total Tacks: 24 Fully foiling: 21; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 0
• Total Gybes: 21 Fully foiling: 20; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 0

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 86 - March 17, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Alinghi Red Bull Racing's AC40-4 (Red) and AC40-7 (Black) were rolled out at 07:00hrs and 07:25hrs respectively. The day started with standard systems checks off the dock.

A notable issue arose with a leak in the Red boat's rudder system, leading to the boat being craned out for maintenance. The rudder was lowered 1ft out of its fitting as works were carried out involving both electronics and hydraulics technicians. The issue was resolved, the rudder was successfully repositioned, and the Red boat was craned back into the water by 11:10hrs. Two twist grip flight controllers packaged up were also spotted being taken out of the base. Further work was carried out on the Red boat as more leaks in the starboard traveller hydraulic ram were noted.

The team sailed despite a delayed start due to light shifty winds, docking out at 13:30hrs. Both boats were prepared with full LEQ (custom design) sail plans, including a selection of J1, J2, and J3 jibs, with the crew swapping boats again. Nico Rolaz replaced Jason Waterhouse in the starboard trimming seat of the Black boat.

Phase 1 (13:50hrs – 14:20hrs, 8-11.5kn from 200°) Both boats began with free sailing separately, upwind and downwind, with Red stopping to tighten the tension of the top battens on the J2-5. With wind decreasing towards the end of this 30-minute phase, the J2 jibs were dropped, Red hoisted the J1-5 LE, and Black hoisted the J1-4 LE.

Phase 2 (14:30hrs – 15:00hrs, 6-8.5kts from 190°) The course was set at 185°. Practice began, with Red entering on port for all the day's starts. Starts 1 and 2 saw both boats sailing at a distance from each other, with Black starting to leeward with an advantage to win both starts. Black was notably luffed up by Red after the first tack after Start 2, as Black rolled over Red and dropped them off the foils. Start 3 / Race 1 (1 lap) saw Red start with a good lead as Black trailed behind due to a touchdown, allowing Red to cover upwind and secure the win at the downwind finish.

Phase 3 (15:10hrs – 15:30hrs, 6-9kts from 185°) Black practiced a couple of prestarts and a lap of the course alone, as techs on board worked on the Red boat's cunningham system. In the meantime, Jason Waterhouse stepped on board to discuss tactics with the sailing crew.

Phase 4 (15:35 – 15:45, 5-7.5kts from 190°) In decreasing wind, both boats were tow started, but Black struggled to maintain flight through manoeuvres. Both boats were back on tow as they searched for wind to tow start.

Phase 6 (15:46 – 15:58, 4-5kn 155° @ 16:00) Start 4 / Race 2 (1 lap) saw Black start with a lead to leeward, as Red tacked off and sailed low to the right boundary in search of better wind, but were quite a distance behind at the first crossing. Red touched down on the tack to the layline, as Black rounded the windward mark ahead and reached for speed to complete the first gybe at the boundary, but also touched down in the manoeuvre. The race was abandoned, and the decision was made to drop the sails and end the day with wind strength of 4- 5kts by the end of the phase.

The day concluded after three hours on the water, 105 minutes of sailing, and 53 manoeuvres observed of the Red boat, which achieved a 96% fully foiling rate despite the light wind conditions. The boats were craned out by 17:00hrs, wrapping up a day marked by technical challenges and conflicting onshore/offshore wind.

[Report from: Jose L. Piñana AC Recon/Edited by S-W NZ]

Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Nico Charbonnier, Bryan Mettraux, Dean Barker, Phil Robertson, Nico Rolaz, Yves Detrey

Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 86 - March 17, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Weather: 36° Cloudy
• Wind Strength: 4-11.5kts
• Wind Direction: 185°-200°
• Sea State: 0.4mtr S
• Dock Out: 1330hrs
• Dock In: 1620hrs
• Total Tacks: 37 Fully foiling: 35; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
• Total Gybes: 16 Fully foiling: 16; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 85 - March 16, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Alinghi Red Bull Racing's AC40-4 (Red) and AC40-7 (Black) were rolled out around 1000hrs respectively. Both boats underwent systems checks before a safety brief on the dock for the on-water technical crew. The team docked out at 13:00 hrs with J1s and J2s LE jibs carried on the chase boats, LEQ mainsails, and J3 LEQ jibs prepared on the yachts.

The crew configuration remained the same, except for Phil Robertson and Dean Barker swapping helm positions on the Red boat. A small red maple leaf sticker was added to the port mainsail skin of the Red boat, a small nod to Phil Robertson. The challenging wind chop grew from mild to aggressive within the first hour on the water.

Phase 1 (13:20 - 13:55, 13-17kts 305° ) Sailing commenced with each boat free sailing upwind/downwind before joining up and sailing in parallel for sail testing. The stint ended dramatically as Red nosedived and subsequently capsized during a leeward rounding, prompting immediate tech review and a replacement of the bowsprit wind wand.

Phase 2 (14:00 – 14:20hrs, 13-17kn 310°) While Red continued working their AC40, Black set off to practice prestarts, entering on starboard, as they would be entering on this side for all the starts today. Red started sailing 20 minutes after the capsize, briefly testing systems post-repair before aligning for practice starts.

Phase 3 (14:20hrs – 15:00hrs, 14-17.5kts from 315° ) In Start 1, Red fell off their foils with 1 minute to go, allowing Black to start well ahead. A good fight ensued in Start 2, with Black starting ahead and controlling the one-lap race with a downwind finish.

Phase 4 (14:50hrs – 15:00hrs, 15-19kts from 320° ) The wind increased as Red won Start 3 and controlled the first half of the upwind before both boats turned back downwind and stopped to change batteries.

Phase 5 (15:130hrs – 15:25hrs, 15-20kts from 320°) Start 4 saw Red touched down in a manoeuvre and were unable to recover, leaving Black to start alone. Both stopped, with checks carried out on Red as the sailors were observed changing sailing kit.

Phase 6 (15:30hrs – 15:55hrs) Start 6 continued into a second one-lap race. Red started ahead to leeward, as Black tacked off, with Red following soon after. Black split off again, seeking clear air. Red was ahead at the windward mark by about 9 seconds, maintaining the lead to the leeward gate, as Black almost lost it on the rounding. Both boats sailed half the way upwind before turning downwind to sail back to the Obhur Creek to drop sails and end the day.

Summary: After three hours on the water and 115 minutes of sailing, the 100 manoeuvres were observed of the Black boat, of which 90% were fully foiling.

[Report from: Jose L. Piñana AC Recon/Edited by S-W NZ]

Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Nico Charbonnier, Bryan Mettraux, Yves Detrey, Dean Barker, Phil Robertson, Jason Waterhouse

Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 85 - March 16, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Weather: 34° Cloudy
• Wind Strength: 13-20kts
• Wind Direction: 305°-320°
• Sea State: 0.6-0.8mtr NW
• Dock Out: 1300hrs
• Dock In: 1610hrs
• Total Tacks: 67 Fully foiling: 63; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 1
• Total Gybes: 33 Fully foiling: 27; Touch & Go: 5; Touch Down: 1

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 84 - March 15, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Alinghi Red Bull Racing's AC40-4 (Red) and AC40-7 (Black) were rolled out at 09:15 and 09:40, respectively. Following standard systems checks off the dock, further work was observed on the Black boat's Foil Control System (FCS).

The team docked out at 12:15hrs. The crew swapped boats again, and the only change made to the crew combination was Yves Detrey replacing Nico Rolaz to trim on the port side of the Red boat. The day's sailing commenced in 15kt winds with both boats equipped with full LEQ (custom design) sail plans, with J3 jibs selected ahead of winds in the upper range (29kts), and an aggressive wind chop.

The session lasted four hours, with two hours of actual sailing in the two AC40s.

The first two sessions consisted of long windward legs followed by sailing the reciprocal downwind course.

Then followed two prestart practices, with the third prestart continuing into a one lap race.

The pattern was followed for eight starts and three one lap races.

The team docked in at 15:50hrs, after nearly four hours on the water and 130 minutes of intensive sailing. Despite the challenging conditions, 94 manoeuvres of the Black boat were observed at a 76% fully foiling rate.

[Report from: Jose L. Piñana AC Recon/Heavily edited by S-W NZ]

Crew: Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxime Bachelin, Nico Charbonnier, Bryan Mettraux, Dean Barker, Phil Robertson, Yves Detrey, Jason Waterhouse

Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC40x2 - Day 84 - March 15, 2024 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Weather: 33° Cloudy
• Wind Strength: 13-19kts
• Wind Direction: 305-315°
• Sea State: 0.8mtr NW
• Dock Out: 1215hrs
• Dock In: 1605hrs|1630hrs
• Total Tacks: 58 Fully foiling: 48; Touch & Go: 8; Touch Down: 2
• Total Gybes: 36 Fully foiling: 23; Touch & Go: 10 Touch Down: 3

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, and 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.