America’s Cup: all the teams’ moves as told by “spies.” PHOTOS

The 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona is still a long way off, but by now we can say that the teams have entered the thick of their preparations, everyone is on the water training. Luna Rossa and Ineos Britannia are doing this with 12-meter prototypes, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic with the old AC 75s, Team New Zealand with the AC 40.

A media America’s Cup.

For the first time in the history of the America’s Cup, espionage has been legalized, a team of spies with cameramen and photographers is stationed in every city where unions are based. Spy team operators and photographers can take pictures of the training, and disseminate the material to all teams and selected media. A great revolution from the past where secrecy was the watchword and having a few pictures taken from afar was a scoop. So let’s take a look at what the various teams are doing, with some detailed pictures of operations at sea, starting with Luna Rossa.

America’s Cup: Luna Rossa – the prototype returns to the water

Luna Rossa has been slowed down by an incident ashore a few weeks ago when the mast of the prototype being rigged fell on the team yard. An inconvenience due to human error that cost the Italian team a few weeks of downtime. This week, as these images taken in Cagliari tell the story, Luna Rossa prototype is back on the water.

Ineos Britannia – first tests of the prototype in Mallorca

Ineos Britannia’s Brits have moved little in the water with the new prototype, doing so mainly for towing tests, working long hours on land these days as well to perfect the final details of the onboard systems.

America’s Cup: Team New Zealand “breaks” the AC 40.

Defender Emirates Team new Zealand made a different choice: being the first team to receive the AC 40, the one-design with which the Youth and Women America’s Cup will be raced, it modified it and turned it into a test boat. A solution provided for in the regulations, provided, however, that then for official regattas the boat is reintroduced in a strictly One Design version. The Kiwis pushed the 40′ to the limit, so much so that they ran into a ruinous scull with major bow damage. In fact, the AC 40 will be modified in some bow structures and strengthened.

Alinghi sharpens knowledge of AC 75 in Barcelona

Ernesto Bertarelli’s Swiss team continues its learning process of the AC 75 in the waters of Barcelona . The team is young and will need many hours at sea to get used to the new boat, in anticipation of having the AC 40s in the spring as well. Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s 75 is the New Zealanders’ Hull 1, purchased by the Kiwis to begin training in Barcelona. On the old 75s there are few major changes; in fact, the Helvetians are training with an older set of foils.

American Magic with Patriot in Pensacola

Similar choice by American Magic, who is training with the old AC 75 in anticipation of receiving the 40 in the spring. For the Americans, there could be a major change coming on the sail front: from Quantum to North Sails, with the latter becoming the “monopoly” sailmaker for the next race.

Mauro Giuffrè