Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC40-4 Day 5 Summary

The Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailors were absolutely sending it in Barcelona today, in pretty much perfect conditions as the ‘Garbi’ breeze blew in a healthy 14 knots from the south-west and allowed the Swiss to light the afterburners on their spectacular AC40. Not all smooth sailing today however, and it’s just as well that the team practised their capsize drill as the sailors got screwy on a gybe, stuck the bow into Davy’s Locker and toppled over at high-speed. These boats reward accuracy but bite if you get it wrong and it’s something that we have got used to over the course of this America’s Cup cycle. Yves Detrey, the megastar double winner of the America’s Cup and now in his fifth campaign was more than relaxed about the capsize in interview afterwards, saying: “Yeah that was fun. I mean it's the first time while sailing and it's going to happen again. It's part of the learning process and obviously was the first time for us to sail in that that bit of breeze, and the chop was getting higher and higher so, you know, it happens and it will happen again.” 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