Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

America's Cup: Driving like he stole it - Jimmy Spithill on Luna Rossa's AC75

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 4 Jan 2020 18:28 GMT 5 January 2020
Luna Rossa sailing off Cagliari, Sardinia © Carlo Borlenghi / Luna Rossa

Twice America's Cup Champion, Jimmy Spithill is believed to be on the helm of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's first AC75, when filmed sailing in rough, following seas off Sardinia.

The video was first released by SailingSardinia.it before New Year (December 29, 2019), and was apparently shot from a drone (due to the absence of chase boat wake, and elevation of the camera and proximity of the AC75).

It shows the skiff-hulled AC75 sailing very close to the water, in what is accepted as the optimum height for an AC75 (provided the windward foil arm is not making contact with the water).

As the camera tends to flatten off the appearance of the sea-state - the only way to judge the conditions is by the frequency of the breaking water. Plus the chase boat has some difficulty in holding a steady course. So it must be assumed that the sea state was substantial, and the performance of the Italian team is impressive in the conditions.

Relating the video to Auckland, and the case before the Arbitration Panel relating to wind limits for both the Prada Cup and America's Cup, the comment has to be made that this sea state could be avoided by sailing on one of the four sheltered water America's Cup course areas, allowing the AC75's to sail in stronger winds, but without the complications caused by the sea-state in the video.

There is no video of Emirates Team New Zealand's AC75 sailing in similar conditions to the Scirocco, for the simple reason that there has been very little onshore breeze, this summer, in Auckland.

On the one occasion Sail-World observed the team sailing in an 18-20kt sea breeze, the team seemed to handle the conditions well, until the publicised splashdown, caught on camera. However after a debrief and on the water check, Te Aihe headed upwind again for several minutes before turning and running downwind, in a moderate onshore sea, sailing very fast indeed, straight and steady in height, and continued the session in the relatively land-locked waters of "The Paddock".

The images below are of Emirates Team New Zealand sailing in a fresh (15-18kt) seabreeze and moderate sea, with no swell, in early November 2019.

To recap, Te Aihe was sailing well to windward, in the sea breeze, and unexpectedly nosedived into a sea, rolled to windward lifting her leeward wing clear of the water. After a debrief with the chase boat crews they headed back upwind for several minutes without any issues, tacked twice, and then took off at high speed and level flight down the Motutapu Island shoreline before gybing out and back to head for The Paddock (America's Cup Course Area E) to continue training.

Emirates Team New Zealand returning from The Paddock - December 2019

Below is some video of Te Aihe sailing upwind in an offshore (SW) breeze. The point of interest between the two boats, both have a centre skeg (Luna Rossa) and a more rounded centreline bustle (ETNZ). Both appear to do the job intended by their respective design teams - providing additional hull volume and buoyancy when immersed without slowing the boat with excessive drag.

Related Articles

America's Cup NZ Govt declines to fund Auckland
Emirates Team NZ have confirmed that NZ Government has refused funding for the 38th America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand has confirmed that MBIE and Central Government have decided not to back the 38th America's Cup hosting in Auckland. Naples and Athens tipped as venues by European media. Posted on 31 Mar
Auckland in venue bid for 38th America's Cup
Events arm of Auckland Council, has confirmed that they are part of a group bidding to hold AC38 Nick Hill, Tataki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive, the Events arm of Auckland Council, has confirmed that they are part of a group bidding to hold the America's Cup in Auckland. Posted on 5 Mar
€1billion payday for Barcelona from AC37
Study says Barcelona reaps hefty economic return from 2024 America's Cup The University of Barcelona and the Barcelona Capital Nàutica Foundation (FBCN) have released the outcome of their post event economic impact study which reveals over €1 billion positive economic GDP return from AC37 for the host venue Barcelona. Posted on 4 Mar
Cup Spy: Top coach looks at the rise of the Brits
Challenger Finals for the Louis Vuitton Cup - why the Brits were formidable In this interview we cover the Challenger Finals for the Louis Vuitton Cup - why they panned out the way they did, and why INEOS Britannia was so formidable. Posted on 20 Feb
America's Cup: INEOS being sued
New Zealand Rugby owner of the All Blacks brand says it is suing INEOS Following the much publicised split in the INEOS Britannia America's Cup team, NZ Rugby has revealed that it is taking legal action against INEOS [Group], for alleged breach of a $USD36million ($NZD63m) sponsorship deal. Posted on 11 Feb
Cup Spy: Fans get their patience tested
Fans got well used to the sight of AC75s falling off their foils - the Cup is off its foils now. America's Cup fans got well used to the sight of AC75s falling off their foils in the lighter moments of Barcelona. They were cringe-worthy moments. The Cup is well and truly off its foils now. Posted on 8 Feb
America's Cup: War of the Roses - a brief truce?
The embattled Houses of Ratcliffe and Ainslie are expected to stage a brief truce, this weekend The embattled Houses of Ratcliffe and Ainslie are expected to stage a brief truce, this weekend, for the first meeting of the teams involved in the 2027 America's Cup. Posted on 31 Jan
America's Cup: CEO ousting starts War of the Roses
A previously strong British America's Cup effort has nosedived after an acrimonious split A split between the skipper and backer of the 2024 British America's Cup team has significant implications for the Cup as two Knights of the Realm line up with legal lances ready for a bloody joust. Posted on 23 Jan
Dalton reflects on another extraordinary year
ETNZ managed an unprecedented third successive America's Cup victory winning 7-2 2024 has been another extraordinary year for Emirates Team New Zealand which managed an unprecedented third successive America's Cup victory winning 7-2 in the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup against INEOS Britannia in Barcelona. Posted on 20 Dec 2024
ETNZ ranked #5 in major sport brands
Emirates Team NZ has been ranked at #5 on the global Sports Technology Power List In the 2024 Sports Technology Annual Review and Power List published Friday, Emirates Team New Zealand has been ranked at #5 on the global Sports Technology Power List by The STA Group who champions the best sports technology globally. Posted on 22 Nov 2024