Alinghi Red Bull Racing BoatZero Day 53 Summary

It has been a tough week for Alinghi Red Bull Racing with yesterday’s session called off due to a medical emergency caused when raising the mainsail and today some pretty serious rudder damage caused to BoatZero whilst beginning an exit from a fast reach, bearing away in around 12 knots of breeze towards the Barcelonetta beach. Arthur Rozand, a key member of the Swiss design team in the VPP department gave a brief analysis and when asked to expand on the cause he offered: “The rudder let go after the bear-away, now we are looking at it and checking everything that happened basically, but now there’s not an answer I can give you.” Asked if there was much structural damage, Arthur confirmed: “Not much. We were quite lucky so it should not be too hard to fix it.” 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