Cup Spy

Only two teams had America’s Cup related activity, with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli being the only team to sail.

From the data now available in the AC37 Joint Recon system we can see the teams which have taken delivery of the seven AC40’s officially recorded. See below:

What happened in the Cup – May 19, 2023:

Luna Rossa sailed their LEQ12 from Cagliari – Day 59 in this boat and had a good session sailing fast in winds of 10-13kts.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their new AC40 out of the shed for a rigging length check, which lasted 80 minutes, before returning to the shed. The Swiss also did some modifications to the AC75.
None of the other launched teams sailed.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari

From the AC37 Joint Recon Team – Michele Melis:

The Italian LEQ12 was rolled out at 1150hrs and quickly began for the shore crew with the mast stepping procedure.

The LEQ12 touched the water 20 minutes later, and the usual routine checks followed as dockout was scheduled at 1330hrs.

Similar to the previous day, the forecast looked quite challenging with patchy, gusty and shifty breeze due to several rain systems distributed around the gulf, combined to early signs of an incoming easterly swell.

When the LEQ12 was towed out towards La Sella del Diavolo under the rain, the sea state was glassy and just when the chase boats passed the Cape, some pressure seemed was noticed. The RU anemometer displayed 10-13kn from NE when the M2 mainsail was hoisted with the J2 jib with approx.

The sailing started in a seastate of 0.6m every 5-6sec period – a rising swell from E – certainly interesting conditions with some offset between wind and waves considering the AC venues.

Over the entire day the LEQ12 hosted six crew which were observed swapping pods between starboard and portside and none self take offs were observed. Just when both sails were hoisted, the breeze was missing and the LEQ12 was towed further offshore to find some.

Once released from tow line, the LEQ12 was foilborne and sailing upwind for some miles towards just offshore of Torre delle Stelle before bearing away and heading downwind skimming on the waves.

As the LEQ12 came to a stop after a gybe, the breeze seemed to have shifted towards N and the towed up LEQ12 performed a series of tacks offshore of Poetto before bearing away and trimming back up with shifted pressure of 9-12kts from NNW.

After a break which saw the trimmers and helmsmen swapping pods, the LEQ12 was back foilborne in NE breeze completing some virtual mark maneuvers before stopping to lower the sails. Considering the sea state, the AC37 Joint Recon team (RU) struggled to keep up closely with the prototype, having to anticipate its course while the rainy conditions did not favor dry and steady shooting of video footage.

Certainly, this was a very productive day for the Italian team with difficult conditions while still looking steadily faster. The LEQ12 was recorded foilborne for approximately 81 minutes out of 150 total with additional observation of approx. nine tacks and 12 gybes

[Michele Melis AC Recon].

Session Statistics: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 29 – February 4, 2023 – Cagliari

Weather: Cloudy 22°C
Wind Strength 10-13kts
Wind Direction: NNW – NE
Sea State: 0.5-0.8 metre swell at 5-6sec periods
Roll out: 1210hrs Dock Out: 1330hrs
Dock In: 1700hrs Crane out: 1800hrs
Total Tacks: 9 – Fully foiling: 6; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 1
Total Gybes: 12 – Fully foiling: 9; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 2

Crew: Francesco Bruni, Jimmy Spithill, Marco Gradoni, Ruggero Tita, Umberto Molineris, Vittorio Bissaro

Alinghi Red Bull Racing – AC40-7 – Day 1 – May 19, 2023 – Barcelona

From the AC37 Joint Recon team:

Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their new AC40 at 1000hrs for a quick rigging lengths check. The yacht was brought to the forecourt fitted with its One Design foil arms and wings.

The yacht was not complete, with its rudder and foil cant axis fairings removed, and cables sticking out of the inspection hatches on the foil arms. More decals are yet to be added.

The rig was craned on at 1020hrs and spent 45 minutes fitting and adjusting. After a quick crane lift test at 1110hrs, the rig was craned off 10 minutes later and boat work, in public view, came to an end.

Meanwhile, fibre-optic works were being carried at the AC75 mast base.

Session Statistics: Alinghi Red Bull Racing – AC40-7 – Day 1 – May 19, 2023 – Barcelona

Wind Strength: Light – 10kts
Wind Direction: S
Weather: Sunny 17-18°C
Sea State: Not relevant – rigging test only
2024 America’s Cup – boat list by team
- Emirates Team New Zealand – AC40-1 and AC40-3. (AC40-1 is operating as a LEQ12 Test boat). ETNZ also have an AC75 upgraded to Version 2 of the AC75 Class rule, which has sailed for 19 days. They have stopped sailing the AC75 and will take the AC75 and AC40-OD to Barcelona to restart sailing in July 2023 to October 31, 2023.
- INEOS Britannia – AC40-2 which will stay as a One Design, as the team already have a custom design LEQ12, and no AC75. The British team’s LEQ12 has sailed for 50days.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing – AC40-4 and now AC40-7 (yet to sail). The Swiss team is using AC40-4 as their LEQ-12, it has been sailed for 26 days. The also have an AC75 which has been largely upgraded to Version 2 of the AC75 Class Rule and has sailed for 63 days.
- American Magic – AC40-5 which is being sailed as a AC40-OD and LEQ12 and has been used for 32 sailing days. The team also has an AC75, substantially upgraded to Version 2 of the AC75 Class Rule, which has 44 sailing days. the team stopped sailing on May 10, to start their pack out and shift to a new permanent base in Barcelona. They are expected to take the LEQ-12 and AC75 to Barcelona.
- Orient Express Team (formerly K-Challenge) are reported to be expecting to take delivery of their AC40 (hull number not disclosed) in Barcelona, and a building team has been assembled to commence the build of their AC75 raceboat based on a design package supplied by Emirates Team NZ, at the Multiplast yard.
Additional Images:

Alinghi Red Bull Racing – AC40-7 – Day 1 – May 19, 2023 – Barcelona – photo © Alex Carabi / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – LEQ12 – Day 59 – May 19, 2023 – Cagliari – photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

This commentary was written and compiled from video, still images and statistical content extracted from the AC37 Joint Recon program and other material available to Sail-World NZ including photo files, and other on the water coverage from the 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2021 America’s Cups. Its format is intended to give Sail-World readers a snapshot of all teams’ progress on a given day or period.