Alinghi Red Bull Racing Boat Zero Day 32 Summary

After a day of house-keeping yesterday with BoatZero receiving a healthy shot of new hydraulic fluid just outside the shed for all the systems, it was a short day out on the water in Barcelona today for the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team; but from a recon perspective it was significant with the first sighting of the new re-cut M1-1R mainsail now adapted for the boomless set-up. And from a pure aero perspective it’s possibly the neatest we’ve seen to date with the hydraulic system well shielded through a cleverly cut bottom panel and a very flat lower section housing the leech tensioner. Bryan Mettraux, one of the key members of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Driving Group with a strong background in the team’s GC32 and D35 campaigns who switches between mainsail and flight control was naturally coy about the abandoned session but made the best of the situation saying: “Today the wind was light and the waves really big so we just got out to test the M1 which we did the modification on for the boomless system and it was the first time that we hoisted this system so we did a few load tests and everything went well.” 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