Brits dodge thunderstorms off Mallorca to squeeze in test session

What happened in the Cup – June 2, 2023:

• INEOS Britannia sailed their test boat T6 in a two hour session that was sandwiched between thunderstorms. After the session Iain Jensen, flight controller/sail trimmer and Olympic Gold and Silver medalist in the 49er, expressed confidence in the progress being made by the partnership of Mercedes AMG F1 team and the America’s Cup team. He also elaborated on how the British used their simulator.
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing did not sail.
• Emirates Team New Zealand did not sail.
• Luna Rossa did not sail.
• American Magic, last sailed on March 10, and is packing out to make the move to their permanent base in Barcelona.
• No further news from the Orient Express Team (formerly K-Challenge).

INEOS Britannia – LEQ12 – Day 56 – June 2, 2023 – Mallorca

Top sailing journalist Justin Chisholm was on the water and made various observations on the British boat:

Proving the old adage that ‘timing is everything’ the British America’s Cup syndicate squeezed in a useful two hour session – this time just with their T6 LEQ12 test boat – this afternoon ahead of another influx of thunder cells along the southern coast of Mallorca.

Having rolled T6 out of the hangar at 0930 this morning the silver test boat was rigged and launched by 1045 – although dock out was delayed by 20 minutes to 1150.

Once out of the harbour the M1-1 mainsail and J3-2 headsail were quickly hoisted and T6 was soon airborne in around 10 knots of southerly breeze. Soon after this first half hour flight ended boat captain Chris Shirmer was dropped aboard to work on the underneath surface of the starboard foil.

When he had finished a rectangular ‘patch’ could be seen close to the wing’s trailing edge. A brief – sub 5 minutes – downwind flight followed, during which the ‘patch’ looked to have disappeared. Another 20 minutes of windward-leeward sailing was followed by another stop while coach Xabi Fernandez laid a practice course with a single windward mark and leeward gate.

Three two-lap practice sessions were staged featuring some crisp windward and leeward mark roundings and some powerful prestart ‘shadow boxing’ manouvres.

With the claps of thunder getting steadily louder and the lightening flashes over the land coming closer to the coast time was called at 1415.

Sails were dropped by 1425 and the boat was on the dock by 1440. No sailing is scheduled for the weekend with Monday cited as the next possible sailing session.

Session Statistics: INEOS Britannia – AC40 – Day 4 – February 17, 2023 – Mallorca

• Weather: Thunderstorms, clear offshore 25°
• Wind Strength 9-11kts
• Wind Direction: 230-240°
• Roll out: 10100hrs Dock Out: 1215hrs
• Dock In: 1530hrs Crane out: 1600hrs
• Total Tacks: 18 – Fully foiling: 15; Touch & Go: 2; Touch Down: 1
• Total Gybes: 22 – Fully foiling: 15; Touch & Go: 3; Touch Down: 4

Additional Images:

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.

by Richard Gladwell