Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC40-4 Day 26 Summary

It was October-like conditions in Barcelona on Thursday with a southeast ‘Xaoloc’ wind and an easterly swell sitting offset to each other producing challenging conditions for a commissioning day of Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s novel Tubercle port foil. The Swiss more than manned-up to the conditions, sending the AC40 (now firmly in LEQ12 mode) over some 50 nautical miles through five hours of solid testing with the sailors looking masterful as they pushed through the design office’s check list. Speaking afterwards, the ever-present on-water design co-ordinator, Adolfo Carrau, summed up the day saying: “Today was a bit of a commissioning with it, was a bit of a fast commissioning, but we did first check that structurally and the mechanics of the foil were working as intended and then we had a long day just going through the settings - different boat speeds and cants and pitch – so, typical settings that you try on the foils just to see how it (the new port foil) behaves and comparing against the other foil (starboard one-design) which we know already much better. So, I think as a first day it was pretty successful.” 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