Alinghi ramps up America’s Cup training

The Swiss campaign for the 37th America’s Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, has taken delivery of a second AC40 one-design foiling boat, allowing the team to add match racing to their training regimen in Barcelona, Spain.

“This is an important step for us, we will be able to have all members of the Driving Group on the water at the same time and this will raise their performance,” explained Sailing Team Advisor Pietro Sibello.

While the defender has had both their AC40s on the water, this is the first challenger to have the same opportunity. The seven members of the Driving Group will rotate between the boats, accompanied in turn by the two Sailing Team Advisors Pietro Sibello and Dean Barker and by Ernesto Bertarelli.

With just four months to go to meeting its rivals for the first time at the opening America’s Cup pre-regatta in Vilanova y Geltrù in mid-September, Alinghi Red Bull Racing is getting into race mode and will soon start valuable two-boat training sessions on the water following months of virtual two boat training on a simulator.

“With almost a year to go to the Cup, we are making progress in the campaign and it’s time to race!” said Nicolas Charbonnier, from the Driving Group. “This second AC40 will give us a reference point on the water which will allow us to be more efficient in everything we test.”

Arnaud Psarofaghis from the Driving Group added, “This completely changes the dynamics of the team. This second boat will allow us to have more sailors on the water and therefore to increase the feedback and learning from everyone.”

The team will alternate between match racing the two AC40s and training on the AC75 while the design team in Barcelona and the build team in Ecublens, Switzerland, continue working on the race boat they will use for their challenge in 2024.

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period opened December 1, 2021 and runs until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup may be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the venue reveal, confirming it would be Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup will be held in September/October 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• K-Challenge Racing (FRA)

Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40) – Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 3 (AC40) – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 2024 (AC75) – Barcelona, Spain

Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Additional details: www.americascup.com/en/home