America's Cup: Alinghi Red Bull Racing confirms almost ready to go in Barcelona.
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 8 Aug 2022 03:31 BST
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC75 rollout - Barcelona - August 2022 © Alinghi Red Bull Racing Media Pool
America's Cup: Alinghi confirms they are almost ready to go in Barcelona.
Via social media the Swiss America's Cup Challenger Alinghi Red Bull Racing have advised they are almost ready to launch their AC75, formerly Emirates Team NZ's Te Aihe, in Barcelona. The former twice winner of the America's Cup will be the first team of the 2024 America's Cup to commence sailing.
ARBR are so far the only New Team of the current America's Cup.
The video below sent earlier by social media appears to be ARBR arriving at their base in Old Port of Barcelona prior to the final fit-out ahead of going sailing.
If the usual process is followed, the AC75 will go through a period of testing of Foil Control and other underwater foiling systems on the dock, then the mast is stepped, followed by towing trials and then some very tentative test sailing.
Because they are Challengers from the 2021 America's Cup, other teams cannot begin sailing until September 17, 2022 - either in their second generation AC75, or AC40 when they are fitted out and ready to sail.