Luna Rossa Swordfish and Luna Rossa Piranha both on the water
by Luna Rossa Challenge 14 Sep 2014 17:45 BST
14 September 2014
Luna Rossa Swordfish and Luna Rossa Piranha foiling © Luna Rossa Challenge
Luna Rossa Swordfish and Luna Rossa Piranha both on the water: the team resumes its training with two AC45 boats
After Luna Rossa Piranha, who has been sailing since July 1st, today Luna Rossa Swordfish – the second AC45 with which the team is developing its design and training for the 35th America's Cup – also started sailing again in Cagliari.
The Protocol of the 35th America's Cup in fact 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.
During this first phase 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. These "new" catamarans are capable of greatly increased performances and can simulate the sailing conditions of the AC62 catamarans ("full foiling" with a 30-meter wing) that will be used in the 35th America's Cup.
Luna Rossa Piranha and Luna Rossa Swordfish have thus become real test laboratories for components, systems, data collection and analysis, as well as the ideal platforms to train the crew in manoeuvers, boat handling and foiling tactics and techniques.
Max Sirena, skipper of Luna Rossa, said: "This is an important day for the team: sailing with two boats offers a significant advantage not only for performance comparison but from all points of view. We participated in the last America's Cup to set the basis for our 35th America's Cup and now we can count on a solid team and a close collaboration between designers, sailing team and shore team. There is a constant exchange of information between these areas to address the design and optimize its applications."
Training on the water with the two AC45s began this morning with a northwest wind ranging from 7 to 12 knots that allowed both boats to sail immediately in a full-foiling configuration.