INEOS Britannia T6 Day 33 Summary

INEOS Britannia’s upward trajectory continued today with an entertaining light airs session out on the Bay of Palma that saw the team rifling through an intensive test schedule and looking remarkably comfortable all round on ‘T6’ the ‘silver bullet’ LEQ12 prototype. Flight was stable, manoeuvres were slick, windward heel was induced both upwind and down, and the sailors looked the most assured since the team introduced the W-Foil concept on their starboard foil arm on the 21st March. Iain Jensen in the starboard pod, controlling the W-Foil, was observed looking over the side frequently, gauging the performance profile of the foil and as he confirmed afterwards was using a visual to hit “target ride height.” The recon team also noted multiple board drops of the starboard foil arm in flight to windward with Jensen watching the immersion with interest at different cant angles. It’s abundantly clear that INEOS Britannia feel that they are onto something very interesting with the foil concept, something they trialled in the 2021 America’s Cup, and are looking better and better on it as the data gathering sessions progress. 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