Cup Spy Nov 6: Luna Rossa drops rig
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 6 Nov 2022 14:41 PST
2 November 2022
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Mast incident - LEQ12 - November 6, 2022 - Cagliari © Ivo Rovira / America'sCup
What happened in the Cup - November 6, 2022:
- Luna Rossa had a rigging mishap before launching at their base in Cagliari
- American Magic did not sail on Sunday.
- INEOS Britannia are yet to sail their newly launched LEQ12 from Mallorca
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed on Saturday, from Barcelona
- Emirates Team New Zealand were expected to sail on Monday, before several team members headed for the next round of SailGP in Dubai.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - LEQ12 - Cagliari
Italian America's Cup Challenger, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dropped their rig while in the pre-launch process on their LEQ12, in Cagliari, Sardinia on Sunday (local time).
No statement has been issued by the team however information has been posted in the AC37 Joint Recon project repository.
In an interview with the AC37 Joint Recon Project team, Director Max Sirena said the damage would put the team off the water for several weeks. The LEQ12, a 12 metre long prototype/platform used for the development program of the team's AC75 raceboat, was tow-tested on October 21, and has been sailing for five days. Winds are believed to have been quite light at the time and were not a factor, despite forecasts of the arrival of the Mistral.
Surprisingly, there seems to have been no injuries in the incident which appears to have occurred after the mast was erected on the 12 metre long prototype AC75.
"It was a routine stepping of the rig," Sirena explained. "At the end it is something we're doing every day. It was a simple mistake, which is gonna cost us a few weeks of working."
"But it's part of the game. We are pushing really hard, we are trying to work and get sailing as much days as possible. So shit can happen and we're going react as a group like we do all the time, and we're going to come back stronger in the water, and as soon as possible."
Sirena wouldn't comment specifically on the damage.
"It just happened," he said. "So we have to check. Luckily, it seems like it's only it's only affected the mast. We are going to do a full check in and inspection of the mast. In a few hours time, we're going to understand better the damage. But again, we can fix everything. We build and fix everything [in Cagliari]. So it's alright. It's all about time."
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have constructed the LEQ12 at their base in Cagliari, which requires quite a sophisticated build facility, and the team are in a better position to effect repairs than in previous campaigns.
From images in the AC37 Recon System there appeared to be no damage to the heel of the mast which sits on a metal ball on the deck. The tip of the mast is damaged, over the top metre of the mast. There is no signs of obvious damage to the body of the mast section. The mast came down resting by its mast tip on the boatyard hard stand, and supported on the boat end by the corner of the transom.
This commentary was written and compiled from video, still images and statistical content extracted from the AC37 Joint Recon program and other material available to Sail-World NZ including photo files, and other on the water coverage from the 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2021 America's Cups.