Fully foiling Luna Rossa Piranha
by Luna Rossa Challenge 1 Jul 2014 15:15 BST
1 July 2014
AC45 Luna Rossa Piranha set for a first sail after extensive modifications © Luna Rossa
Luna Rossa Piranha – one of the two AC45s with which the team will train and develop its design in view of the 35th America's Cup – starts sailing today in Cagliari.
The "new" Luna Rossa Piranha has undergone some major changes foreseen by the Protocol of the 35th America's Cup that now allows the modification of any component of the AC45 catamarans – used in past editions of the America's Cup World Series – except for the shape of the hulls.
In this first phase the research and the modifications focused essentially on the optimization of the appendages – daggerboards and rudders – and on-board systems that allow the AC45 catamarans to fully foil and sail with greatly increased performances.
Luna Rossa Piranha and Luna Rossa Swordfish have thus become real laboratories to test components, develop systems, collect and analyze data, as well as to train the crew in manoeuvers, boat handling and foiling tactics and techniques.
The aim is also to create and develop a close collaboration between the designers and the sailing team through a constant exchange of information, in order to address the design and optimize its applications.
During this phase onboard communications will also be improved; the rotation of roles within the crew will also be important to identify the most suitable sailors for each role, thus allowing all possible configurations on board.
Max Sirena, skipper of Luna Rossa, said: "We have invested a lot of energy in the development of the AC45 boats and I wanted to personally follow the conclusion of this first phase as it is a very important step in our preparation. I am very happy with the results and I want to thank the whole team for having worked with great professionalism and dedication within the deadlines we had set. The aim of Luna Rossa is to win the America's Cup and, to achieve this result, we need to give our best from the first to the last day of our campaign."
Luna Rossa Piranha will start sailing from the early afternoon of today.
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