Update
There will be much head-scratching in the Ocean Fifty class after another destructive transatlantic race with only three of the six starters finishing the course. On paper these boats look at least as secure as the Orma 60 tris before them, but watch them pitching in a seaway and they look anything but. Maybe it’s scale, boat length vs wave length, but right now this is a fleet that should switch to coastal sprints and inshore grand prix if it wants to have a longterm future… and while there are still a few examples in one piece
life simpler – settle on Version A of the foil wings, have three identical steel components machined, add the lead to complete Version A and then begin modifying and testing. AC75 racing starts with the third and final Preliminary Regatta on
Friday 23 August 2024, running over four days. This racing will give a good indication of form for each team. The challengers will then have only four days to decide on the
configuration to use in the opening round robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection which begins on Saturday 31 August. (Welcome back, LV!). The rules define ‘event stages’ and require the same measured
configuration to be used throughout a given event stage – round robin, semi-finals and finals of the LVC, and the AC Match. The Match begins on Saturday 12 October. During development one of the three foil wings allowed by the
rules can be in the shop for modifications while the other two are sailed for training and testing. The five foil flaps can also be run through multiple cycles of testing and modifications. Imagine the challenge of managing the test and development
process – three wings, five flaps, multiple modifications, all combined with varying wind and sea states, while also testing and developing the sails and sail-control systems. Remember that the shared recon programme requires the teams to announce which components they are using on every sailing day. Once the AC75s launch it will be very interesting to see how many
versions of all these components – foil wings, flaps, sails and mainsail control systems – get tested. An AC75 requires a lot of TLC from the shore crew. The different ratio of sailing days to maintenance days achieved by the teams will play a big role. Plus of course the teams also need to train at manoeuvres and
how to race these boats. Lots to do, not much time.
CupExperience.com
WHIRLWIND – Terry Hutchinson The past month has indeed been a whirlwind. At this writing at the end of November I am trying to piece it all together. Part of the month was spent at home in Maryland catching up with life…Elias (24), Katherine (22) and Aden (20). Part of the time was at the NYYC Annual Awards celebrating the success of others; Charlie Enright was acknowledged as the NYYC
16 SEAHORSE
Mosbacher Award winner for the success of 11th Hour Racing in The Ocean Race and John Brim, owner of Rima (which I joined for the NYYC ‘cruise’), was awarded the Herreshoff Medal for best- performing team over the NYYC season. It was fun to be there sharing that moment with John and the
Rima team. It was also a smaller celebration for Allan Terhune, Sarah Chin and Madeline Baldridge and their team gold medal win at the Pan American Games in the Lightning class. Amazingly it was the first time in 29 years that the US has won a gold medal in the Lightning class!! The trio won the Lightning Class North American Champion - ship earlier in the year and the Pan Ams with the medal race to spare. I know there will be a lot of competition for US Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, but Allan will be a contender. In that vein it was also great to see Tom’s (Slingsby) success at
the World Sailing awards where he was acknowledged with World Sailor of the Year. Tom’s wins on SailGP followed up with the American Magic win in Villanova capped off a great season… even for him! The other side of my trip home was a visit to the American Magic
build facility in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. I am certain all the teams are in the throes of AC75 production but watching these boats come to life and seeing the spirit of our build team is infectious. Our boatbuilders are artists, creating the vision of the American
Magic design team with a level of expertise and commitment that I can only hope we match out on the water. The younger boatbuilders are quickly becoming legends of the white suits, sanding on their backs in a position only a 20-something’s body could tolerate. Committed to the cause of perfection and just awesome to see! Patriot training. Post break we got Patriotback out on the racetrack
in Barcelona. On our Saturday sail as we bore away at 51kt I was reminded that Patriot is a great boat. She has been through a lot, and it is going to be sad to see her retired in 2024. Since putting her back in the water on 7 November we have had some good and some bad days. After buzzing around in the AC40s all summer, even while running the two boats, you forget how complicated the AC75 and its systems are. The team is now working through the development process to get
ready for boat 3. The defender just left Barcelona but Alinghi sailing boat zero to a high standard is a daily reminder that the competition is very high and we need to match it. Standing by, Barcelona, looking forward to a week of ripping around in Patriot!
VINCENT OLIVAUD
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