Alinghi Red Bull Racing BoatZero Day 44 Summary

To witness Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailing in perfect south-westerly breeze and flat waters off Barcelona, is to see a team high on the vertical learning curve. The sailors have just got better and better over the winter through first-class coaching and boat modifications designed to make flying and sail control all round much improved from where they started. It all came to bear on Monday as BoatZero was put through its paces, hitting speeds in excess of 45 knots over a nearly five-hour session in almost Auckland conditions that the boat was designed for. Silvio Arrivabene, the affable co-general manager for Alinghi Red Bull Racing gave a terrific interview covering a wide waterfront of the campaign to date, after sailing today, and talking about the partnership with Red Bull in relation to a similar partnership between INEOS Britannia and Mercedes, he explained that it is so much more than just technology they share: “Well I think the partnership is a little bit different, because if I understand correctly INEOS Britannia partners with Mercedes Formula One whereas we partner with Red Bull the company, the Austrian company, the drinks company in a way and then amongst the galaxy of companies they have there is also of course the Red Bull Racing Formula One team and Red Bull Technology with whom we exchange a lot on the technical side. That has certainly been a privilege to have that preferential access, but you know certainly our partnership is beyond technologies, it’s with Red Bull.” 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