America’s Cup : les dernières infos Tip & Shaft

In February, American Magic suppliers Helly Hansen took a very small media group behind the curtain in Pensacola, Florida to see the winter training base of American Magic. Tip & Shaft’s Andi Robertson found skipper and executive director Terry Hutchinson in excellent spirits despite the frustration that these incredibly complex AC75s are spending so much time in the yard and not enough time on the water, but – as he says – it is the same for everyone. The complexity and science create opportunities and American Magic are doing all they can to seize them with both hands.

As Team Director and Skipper of the Luna Rossa Challenge, Max Sirena has a lot on his plate these days, looking to ensure the first meeting of the new AC75s at the opening America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari in April is as productive and smoothly run as possible. At the same time he is trying to minimise the downtime caused by their rig dropping overboard during training on January 27. Tip & Shaft took an early morning cappuccino with Sirena earlier this week.

Although he is little known in France, Laurent Esquier is a well known figure in the rarefied world of the America’s Cup. He has been involved in Cup World almost continuously since his first participation as a sailor in 1974 alongside Baron Bich. Now Esquier is at the helm of COR36 and as such responsible for organising the America’s Cup World Series, for which the 2020 calendar was presented last month and the Challenger Selection Series (The Prada Cup).

At a little under one and a half years before the start of the 36th America’s Cup the first four AC75s were all launched within the space one month. What differences have been noted between these four boats? What is likely to the timing for challenges who are looking to launch their second boat? Tip & Shaft garners some ideas…

INEOS Team UK launched their first AC75 Britannia last Friday at their base in Portsmouth, another fascinating variation on the theme which seems to fit somewhere between the Kiwi and American Magic design philosophies. Their minimalist bow sections give way to a relatively flat sided beast. Sir Ben Ainslie revealed that Britannia 1 required 90,000 design hours and 50,000 build hours. Tip & Shaft caught up with the Head of Design Nick Holroyd who joined the team in January last year.

Proud Kiwi Ray Davies has a long and storied sailing CV including winning the Volvo Ocean Race in 2001-2 with Illbruck as well as six America’s Cups campaigns. He played a key role in the development of the victorious Emirates Team New Zealand boat as well as being back up helmsman and coach. He has been involved in bringing the new America’s Cup foiling monohull class from concept to reality. Ray remains a sailing team member but more and more enjoys his coaching role where his brief is wide ranging. Tip & Shaft caught up with Ray at the 52 SUPER SERIES where he was taking time out to sail on Sled….