Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Prototype Day 27 Summary

‘La Maddalena Spiaggia’ is known to kitesurfers and wing-boarders the world over as ‘Petrol Beach’ that serves up near-perfect winds in the spring, summer, and autumn. On Friday, Petrol Beach was the opening venue for foiling of a different kind with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli at pretty much full tilt, rocketing around shadow-boxing testing before the chase boat team laid marks near the Sella de Diavolo across the Bay towards Cagliari, and Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni put the hammer down. It was full-on race-pace with a premium on slick tacks and gybes and plenty of fast head-up and tacks immediately after the leeward mark – the ‘JK’ as it’s known in America’s Cup parlance. Execution got better and better as the day went on, especially through the tacks where a small sheet-on of the jib was observed just as the windward foil arm is lowered and the helmsman wheels over. With these LEQ12s, the smallest adjustment makes the biggest difference, and the Italians are working so effectively as a unit onboard that they actually are starting to make sailing these high-powered weapons, easy. Interesting in interview afterwards with Davide Cannata who for this America’s Cup cycle is in charge of Onboard Communications and Electronics having been a sailor on the team’s AC75 in Auckland, as he gave a perspective of just how tricky the comms are, saying: “First of all electronics, salt water and wind don't work really well together so it's always challenging. It was really challenging last time as well, but this time we face the new question mark that we actually weren't thinking about because this boat is tiny and we are always trying to go in a more Formula One setup, the guys onboard are very covered up by the carbon and the radio frequency is very challenging to pass through all these obstacles.” 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