INEOS Britannia T6 Day 52 Summary

The relentless testing programme goes on for INEOS Britannia in Palma with a growing sense that the team are making significant progress all round and thoroughly enjoying the new performance profile of their prototype LEQ12 ‘T6.’ Certainly, on the water, the sailors look sublime and their boat handling as they rifle through testing modes dictated by this technology-first campaign that to the naked eye look uncomfortable, is to be applauded. So comfortable are the test team now with ‘T6’ that it's noticeable how hard they can push through the tests and when given the green-light to free-sail, look imperious. Big gains being made, and it shows. Today out on what looked like an unpromising Bay of Palma, it was anything but, as the skies cleared and a beautiful sea-breeze filtered in, delivering 14-17 knots later in the afternoon on this mammoth 5-hour data gathering day. ‘T6’ is arguably the most analysed boat in this America’s Cup cycle and everywhere you look there are cameras and sensors capturing every tiny piece of data they can. So, the opportunity to speak with Will Bakewell, the INEOS Britannia Data and Test Lead, was one not to be missed and talking about his role on the water, Will offered: “On a sailing day it's very much about trying to run the tests in a manner that’s as methodical and scientific as possible and then trying to trying to make sure that it's annotated and described well for everyone back here analysing (in Palma) and back at the factory (in Brackley, Northamptonshire) analysing to do their work… there are some things that are far more subjective that we have to rely on the sailors to give us the feedback on, and there's other things which the sailors absolutely can't give us feedback on and we can only measure so it totally depends what we are looking at.” 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