Luna Rossa

Tactical Overview: The Return of a Champion Emirates Team New Zealand recently relaunched their America’s Cup-winning vessel, Te Rehutai, serving as a definitive test platform for the upcoming cycle. This isn't just a victory lap; it's a cold, calculated move to refine technical systems under new class rules. The team has stripped redundant components while integrating specialized crew configurations to meet the evolving demands of high-performance foiling. Aerodynamic and Mechanical Revisions Significant changes define this iteration. The team removed the bowsprit and backstays, signaling a shift toward a cleaner, more aerodynamic profile. The introduction of **cyclers** highlights a pivot in power generation, replacing traditional grinders to maximize hydraulic pressure. Furthermore, the crew pods are now smaller and partially enclosed, a tactical adjustment permitted by the new regulations to reduce drag and protect the athletes during high-speed maneuvers. The Secret of Slender Foils Te Rehutai's previous dominance likely stemmed from a clever exploitation of electronic actuation. By partnering with Maxon, the team utilized electric motors to control multiple foil flaps with a single actuator. This allowed them to move heavy mechanical systems from the water-submerged bulb up into the foil arm fairing. The result? Thinner foils and drastically reduced drag. This simplicity provided a massive edge over competitors like INEOS Britannia, who utilized bulkier, multi-actuator systems. Rule Evolution and Strategic Compromise New regulations now mandate hydraulic control for all surfaces, effectively closing the electronic loophole. However, the rule regarding flap segments represents a fascinating compromise between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia. While the New Zealanders prefer thin, simple foils, the British side leans toward complex, multi-segment control. The current rule allows for a single flap comprised of multiple segments—a hybrid solution that keeps both design philosophies in the game. Victory will now go to the team that best balances mechanical complexity with hydrodynamic efficiency.

Strategic Resurrection of the G-Wing INEOS Britannia has blindsided the competition by resurrecting the radical W-wing foil, a design previously discarded in AC36. While rivals like Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa have pursued more conventional evolutions, the British squad is banking on engineering breakthroughs to solve the inherent mechanical failures of the past. This isn't just a design choice; it is a statement of intent that the team has mastered the complex articulation required for these multi-segmented lifting surfaces. Mechanical Breakthroughs in Actuation A critical pivot from previous iterations involves the shift to external actuation. By moving the hydraulic or mechanical components outside the main foil wing, INEOS Britannia addresses a primary weakness: internal voids. These air-filled pockets previously flooded upon immersion, causing catastrophic lift inconsistencies. The new thick-finned external hinges suggest a robust system capable of articulating four separate flap segments, offering unprecedented control over the foil’s pressure distribution across varying speeds. Performance Trade-offs and Frontal Area The tactical advantage of the W-wing lies in its ability to maximize wingspan while minimizing vertical strut length. By meeting the vertical arm higher in the water column, the design reduces overall frontal area, theoretically slashing drag. However, this comes at the cost of the writing moment found in traditional T-foils. INEOS Britannia is betting that the reduction in cavitation risk and improved pressure distribution at the junction will outweigh the stability provided by pushing the lifting surface further from the yacht’s center of mass. Defensive Engineering and Future Outlook As American Magic experiments with reflective chrome finishes to hide their own foil secrets, the technical arms race for AC37 has reached a fever pitch. The success of the British W-wing will depend on the durability of these external systems under the extreme 50-knot loads of Barcelona 2024. Victory requires the courage to execute on designs others deemed impossible.

Overview: The High-Stakes Battle for Aerodynamic Purity In high-performance sailing like AC36, the margin for victory is found in the microscopic management of drag and sail shape. The transition from boomed to boomless setups was a calculated sacrifice of energy efficiency for aerodynamic gain. While the boom allows for lower sheet tension, its structural bulk destroys the clean flow between the Mainsail skins. Current elite teams are now locked in a design war over where to house the heavy lifting: the hydraulic rams. Strategic Decisions: Comparing the Rivals Emirates Team New Zealand prioritized weight and center of effort by moving hydraulics above deck, burying them between the skins. This aggressively lowered the sail area but resulted in a compromised, lumpy clue shape. Conversely, Luna Rossa opted for a below-deck carrier. While this produced an elegant sail profile, it cannibalized critical hull volume, forcing the carrier to become a massive structural component that limits deck design flexibility. Performance Breakdown: The Stationary Hydraulic Pivot A superior tactical move involves a stationary below-deck hydraulic system. By decoupling the main sheet ram from the moving traveler, we gain the freedom to place heavy components anywhere in the hull, optimizing weight distribution and allowing the sail skins to close tight for a perfect aerodynamic foil. The INEOS Britannia modification of a 1:2 ratio on the traveler rams further emphasizes that control accuracy often outweighs raw speed in high-speed maneuvering. Critical Impact & Future Learnings The trade-off is friction. My proposed system introduces multiple turning points as the line moves from the stationary ram to the traveler car. Every block added is a tax on energy and a potential point of failure. However, the future of the America's Cup belongs to those who can manage these mechanical losses in exchange for a cleaner aero-package. We are looking for the sweet spot where hydraulic precision meets aerodynamic perfection.

Overview: The High-Stakes Tech Race In the elite theater of the America's Cup, victory is often won in the design office before the first gun fires. A critical shift has emerged in mainsheet system architecture, centering on the move from internal skin-based hydraulics to deck-mounted, free-floating ram configurations. While American Magic recently showcased a sleek development on their platform, evidence suggests Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli may have executed this maneuver first, dating back to December. This is not just a game of copying; it is a relentless pursuit of aerodynamic and mechanical efficiency where every millimeter of sail shape counts. Key Strategic Decisions: The Floating Ram The shift to a "free-floating" hydraulic ram marks a significant tactical departure from the Emirates Team New Zealand standard. By detaching the ram from the internal sail skins and positioning it horizontally along the deck, teams eliminate the need for bulky hydraulics between the sail skins. This move allows the skins to sit closer together, drastically narrowing the exit point on the leech. It is a calculated trade-off: you accept the mechanical complexity of a floating system to gain a cleaner, more adjustable aerodynamic profile. Performance Breakdown: Aerodynamic Gains Removing the central piston allows the sail to maintain a thinner, more efficient airfoil section low down. This configuration provides the crew with greater flexibility to carry depth and shape further forward in the sail without the hydraulic hardware impinging on the curve. Furthermore, the deck-mounted position allows for a longer throw on the piston. In high-performance racing, a longer throw translates to a greater range of mainsheet adjustment, enabling the team to ease the sheet further in volatile conditions without compromising the structural integrity of the leech. Future Implications: The Path to Total Integration As we look toward the next America's Cup cycle, the question remains: can these systems move entirely below deck? Current designs still face friction challenges and complex turning-point requirements. To achieve the next level of performance, teams must solve the

Mastering the Power Struggle In high-stakes team sports, the margin between victory and defeat often lies in the efficiency of your equipment. For INEOS Britannia and their AC75 campaign, the challenge is simple yet brutal: manage massive sail loads with fewer humans. With the reduction from six to four grinders, every watt of human energy is a precious resource. You cannot afford to waste power on inefficient systems when that energy is needed for critical maneuvers like adjusting the Cunningham or executing a tactical turn. The Engineering of Efficiency The heart of the INEOS innovation is a hinged traveler track. Traditional tracks suffer from friction when high loads pull at awkward angles. By allowing the track to pivot and align perfectly with the load, the team minimizes wear and maximizes speed. However, the true genius lies in the purchase system. It utilizes a reverse three-to-one ratio, allowing the traveler to move three times faster than the hydraulic ram. This isn't just about speed; it's about the ability to react to gusts preemptively, reducing the need for steering corrections that bleed momentum. The Differential Breakthrough Deciphering this system requires looking past the blocks and lines to the underlying logic. The INEOS Traveler System functions as a sophisticated differential. During a tack, the system allows the traveler to automatically drop to the new leeward side, positioning the sail for maximum exit speed without manual intervention. This "nifty differential" ensures the boat remains balanced and the crew can focus on trimming for the new heading immediately. It turns a complex mechanical problem into a streamlined tactical advantage. Resilience Through Design In competition, complexity can be a liability, but here it serves resilience. By automating the coarse positioning through the differential and perfecting the alignment via the hinge, the team preserves their athletes' physical capacity. This allows for higher frequency adjustments to the angle of attack, flattening the sail in gusts to reduce drag and healing moment. It is a masterclass in using strategy and engineering to overcome the physical limitations of a smaller crew.

Overview: The LEQ12 Transformation Emirates Team New Zealand recently shifted their strategy by taking the one-design AC40 out of its standard class to create an **LEQ12** test platform. This move signifies a relentless pursuit of technical superiority as we approach the next America's Cup. By utilizing a test boat limited to 12 meters, the team can experiment with radical components, most notably a new foil design that features a distinct curve and anhedral geometry. This isn't just a minor adjustment; it is a calculated risk aimed at redefining the boundaries of hydrodynamics. Key Strategic Decisions: Beyond the Fighter Jet Myth While observers often compare anhedral wings to fighter jets for roll instability, that analogy fails on the water. In a high-stakes tactical environment, we don't turn these boats by banking wings like aircraft; we use foils as massive centerboards and rudders. The decision to implement anhedral and compound curves is about **maximizing span** while minimizing frontal area. By bending the foil, the team can reach the absolute corners of the design box, increasing leverage and righting moment without the drag penalty of a massive vertical strut. It’s a masterclass in geometry over raw power. Performance Breakdown: The Absence of Winglets Perhaps the most striking tactical shift is the removal of winglets. In previous cycles, teams used winglets to manage lift spillover at the tips because they were span-limited. The new rules have opened up the allowable span, and Emirates Team New Zealand is betting on a clean, elliptical lift profile. By tapering the lift toward the tips, they eliminate the need for drag-inducing winglets, a move also mirrored by Luna Rossa and INEOS Britannia. This suggests a transition toward high-aspect-ratio efficiency over brute-force lift. Critical Challenges: The Flap Conundrum Execution is everything. The most significant technical hurdle for this "banana foil" is the mechanics of the trailing edge flaps. Engineering a flap that can rotate and maintain its seal across a **compound curve** is an immense challenge. If the flap cannot operate smoothly without distorting the wing’s shape, the performance gains from the curve are neutralized. We are watching for the use of flexible joints or multi-element surfaces to solve this mechanical puzzle. Future Implications: Resilience and Compliance This design hints at a future where foils provide built-in suspension. A bendy, high-aspect foil offers compliance in choppy water, absorbing vertical shocks that would otherwise destabilize the platform. As we analyze the data from these test sessions, the focus remains on how these foils behave under load. Victory in the America's Cup will go to the team that best balances this extreme flexibility with mechanical reliability.

The Pinnacle of High-Performance Sailing The 36th America's Cup introduced a machine that defied conventional physics and expectations: the AC75. This foiling monohull represented a radical shift from the catamarans of previous cycles. While many observers initially feared the concept was too dangerous or "mental" for tight match racing, the reality proved different. These boats successfully positioned themselves as the absolute pinnacle of yachting technology. They demand more than just raw speed; they require a level of technical mastery and tactical bravery that pushes athletes to their breaking point. As a coach, I see this as the ultimate test of a team’s ability to adapt to a high-stakes, unfamiliar environment. Engineering Resilience and the Foil Arms One of the most impressive feats of the AC75 era was the reliability of the supplied one-design components. By standardizing the foil cant system and the foil arms, the class rule ensured that teams didn't take unnecessary structural risks that could lead to catastrophic failures. This decision increased the overall reliability of the fleet, allowing for more consistent competition. Despite early teething issues with hydraulic systems—notably seen by INEOS Britannia—the platform proved remarkably robust. Even American Magic, after their dramatic capsize, demonstrated the sheer strength built into these designs. Stability and safety are the foundations upon which victory is built. The Low-End Performance Paradox Critics often point to the "wacky" nature of racing at the bottom end of the wind range. When these giants fall off their foils in sub-six-knot breezes, the spectacle can turn from a high-speed chase into a slow-motion struggle. There is a legitimate argument that an older AC50 might navigate a lull more effectively by flying a single hull in displacement mode. However, the AC75 is designed for the edge. While the racing becomes volatile when the wind drops, the challenge for the crew is to maintain flow and momentum—the same fundamentals we teach in any team sport. Success in these marginal conditions separates the elite navigators from the rest of the pack. Refining the Rule for the Next Cycle To keep the momentum into the next America's Cup, several tactical refinements are necessary. Removing the bowsprits and irrelevant center-of-gravity rules would allow designers more freedom without adding unnecessary costs. Furthermore, opening up the foil rules to allow for two sets of measured-in foils would introduce a compelling strategic layer. Teams would have to gamble on the forecast, much like a coach choosing a starting lineup based on the opponent's defensive scheme. This element of risk-taking is what makes top-tier competition so gripping. The Final Verdict The AC75 class is a triumph of modern engineering and a masterclass in team development. It has silenced the doubters by producing refined, high-speed racing that captures the imagination. For the sport to grow, we need continuity. By maintaining this class for future cycles, teams can build upon their existing knowledge base, leading to even tighter competition and a more sustainable entry point for new challengers. The foundation is set; now we see who has the courage to innovate further.