Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

America's Cup: Max Sirena on Luna Rossa's prototype and spy programs

by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 2 Nov 2022 23:41 GMT 3 November 2022
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's LEQ12 sailing on the Gulf of Cagliari © Carlo Borlenghi / Luna Rossa

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli launched their LEQ12 America's Cup test or prototype boat in October. Since then they have been sea trialling and commissioning the prototype AC75 yacht which complies with the rules governing use of surrogate yachts in the build up to the 2024 America's Cup.

The prototype is a Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli project conceived, designed and built in-house, in Cagliari.

The base was redesigned for this purpose, to house new areas for carbon lamination, ovens and other spaces that make it more practical, spacious, and functional for the activities of the various departments. The decision to build it in-house was also taken because the team has been reinforced, with the arrival of new resources in the design and shore team departments, including experienced boat builders and laminators.

"This boat allows us to do development and, therefore, outline what will be the fundamental aspects and lines of the AC75," explained the team director Max Sirena. "It also allows us to start immediately in the right gear. Having a new hull to optimize gives a strong physical and mental charge to the whole team," he added.

In addition to boosting performance, Sirena says the prototype will be used to enhance aerodynamic and hydrodynamic development and all control systems.

What will change with the Recon Program, which 'legalizes' spying?

"It's true that today the espionage activity has been institutionalized," he replies, "but, in fact, it doesn’t change things much. In the past we also had spies studying the hulls; the fact is that copying is not as easy as you might think. The bulk of the work today is on control systems and software, and what you can't see (hidden or inside the boat) is far more important than what is in plain sight".

"A revolutionary wing shape cannot be hidden, but photographing it is not enough to copy it. You have to understand how you get to that shape, set it, move it, control it."

"Replicating it without understanding the complex mechanism behind it, in short, is very difficult."

"Think of the double helm configuration we adopted in the last Cup," says Sirena.

"At the beginning it was criticized, then the other teams realized that it worked and tried to imitate us."

"But it didn't go well.

"Developing the automatisms, rhythms and synchronization that took us months, with just a few days to fine-tune was not possible.

"Even though there will be no cyclists on the prototype, they will get on board to get familiar with the boat and the speeds."

"In general, the crew will rotate and we will give everyone the chance to get to grips with this boat, also to give continuity to the sports program - since someone [SW: Ruggero Tita] will be absent preparing for the Olympics or to take part in some external circuit.

"No one is confirmed at the moment because, as I often say, in the end it is the boat that chooses its crew and not the other way around." he concluded.

Related Articles

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
America's Cup: Ben Ainslie reflects
Ben Ainslie's thoughts subsequent to his riposte to the Kiwi sport commentator Topics covered include his most memorable moment of the Cup, his thoughts subsequent to his riposte to the Kiwi sport commentator and much more in this frank review of the Brits performance in the 2024 America's Cup. Posted on 20 Nov 2024