INEOS Britannia T6 Day 20 Summary

The INEOS Britannia battle-wagon rolled on again with another outstanding performance from the sailing test team who barely put a foot wrong all day on the water, churning out the data collection miles and then showing us some balletic turn-ups at pace, blistering gybes with very interesting and powerful low exit flight, and some whipsaw fast foil-to-foil tacks. Ben Cornish, something of an unheralded secret-weapon in the INEOS Britannia armoury, returned to testing duties on the wheel opposite Giles Scott with Leigh McMillan and Luke Parkinson taking the lion’s share of the pod duties. Bleddyn Mon, the vital tech-link between the sailors and the analysts, swapped in for Parkinson late in the afternoon and the team just didn’t miss a beat. Multiple flight modes were in full test and on display. Sheeting was co-ordinated and positive. And the day was a fabulous mix of getting what was required done early and then letting the sailors sail. Jeff Causey summed it up rather accurately afterwards when he said wryly: “There's technical priorities and there’s their sailing priorities so the day is always a balance of trying to arm wrestle between the two.” 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