Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC40-4 Day 15 Summary

If there’s one thing we are learning this week from recon units all over the world, it’s that AC40’s in big swell require a huge amount of technique and skill to keep upright and flying fast. Today out in Barcelona with wave heights estimated at around 1.5 metres, Alinghi Red Bull Racing had the AC40 rocking and rolling with a new crew formation onboard, especially downwind, where they wrestled with ride height to keep the foils immersed. They did a brilliant job. After sailing, the recon team caught up with double America’s Cup winner Nils Frei who is such a calming influence on the team and brimming with experience. It’s a rare interview and Nils is happy with how Alinghi Red Bull Racing have progressed in eight short months saying: “Time is flying and we're flying better and better as well so that's good. A lot of things going on, obviously first we learned to sail the AC75 and so we had really good months last year in the Autumn and then now since a couple of weeks or a couple of months already sailing with the first AC40, so yes, it's been really interesting. So many things have happened - the crew has evolved a lot too, we had a lot of crew swaps as well, doing a lot of rotations, so I think it's coming together nicely.” Section 41. Reconnaissance a) As a campaign cost reduction measure, COR/D has mutually agreed to cooperatively implement a centralised reconnaissance programme for all teams for the reconnaissance of all Competitors’ AC75 Yachts, AC40 Yachts and LEQ12 yachts including both on-land and on-water imagery (the “Joint Recon Programme”). b) Each team is assigned a two-person Recon Unit to follow their every on-water move, but it's not that simple. The cameras are supplied and identical for all Recon Units. Drones are not allowed, and they can't get that close, plus following a boat and keeping a camera steady at 45 knots isn't that easy to begin with. c) A three minute interview follows each on water day, and teams must answer the Recon Unit's questions while trying not to give too much away. It's a raw, unedited view of the never before seen behind-the-scenes development of a team and their boat to win the oldest trophy in international sports. #AC37Recon #AmericasCup #Barcelona2024