In some of the best footage to date of the 37th America’s Cup cycle, Alinghi Red Bull Racing were sailing on the limit off Barcelona today (Wednesday) in big breeze and absolutely sending BoatZero down the designated racecourse past the W-Hotel and up along the La Barceloneta beachfront at astonishing speeds.
Speaking afterwards, Augustin Maillefer, always one of the great interviewees of the Swiss team summed up the issue saying: “We stopped because we were not sure, there was something with a sensor and yes complex boats, the sensor had to be changed and that’s why we stopped…exactly why I don’t know but it needed to be replaced and when it was done we were still not happy with how it was going. It’s a very complex boat and many things need to be perfect for it to be ready to sail so that’s why we called it a day in the end.”
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
