DISASTER! Alinghi Red Bull AC 75 Breaks Mast in Barcelona. Footage. Our Experts Diego and Vittorio
Alinghi Red Bull Racing was the first team to deliver their AC75 for the 37th America’s Cup to the Barcelona venue, and the Swiss are now the first among the six entrants to break their mast. The failure occurred this afternoon while executing a bear away in 20-knot winds.
“Incidents like this are part of the sport,” said Silvio Arrivabene, team co-general manager. “The team is prepared for this kind of situation and ready with all the necessary spare parts, so the focus is now on getting BoatOne back on the water as soon as possible.”
During the bear away, the forestay went slack just before the mast buckled in two pieces at a third of its height, with the rig collapsing on the deck and into the water. The hull seemed to have not suffered any major damage beside scratched surfaces on the bow.
Italian challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was nearby, with helm Jimmy Spithill noting how “it was a great breeze and not too rough either, pretty flat seaway.”
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Today, Alinghi Red Bull Racing suffered a catastrophic failure of their mast while testing their AC75 catamaran in Barcelona. The incident occurred just after 2 pm with the afternoon SEA Breeze blowing from 210 to 220° at a strength of 20-25 knots.
Key Details
The incident happened while Alinghi Red Bull Racing was executing a bear away maneuver in 20-knot winds. The forward section of the mast gave way under pressure, causing the rig to collapse into the water to leeward.
Preparedness of Team
Team CEO Sylvio Favre noted that incidents like this are part of the sport and said, ‘The team is prepared for situations like this with all necessary spare parts.’ Their focus now will be to repair and get boat one back on the water as soon as possible.
Implications
This is a concerning moment for the team, but they are well-prepared with spare parts to handle the issue. Alinghi Red Bull Racing will need to act quickly to resolve the problem and get back on the water as soon as possible to stay competitive.
The Incident
During a bear away maneuver, the mast went slack and buckled in two pieces at the bottom third of its height. The rig then collapsed on deck and into the water, leaving some minor damage aside from scratched surfaces on the bow.
Location Information
The incident took place in Barcelona during a test sail with an afternoon SEA Breeze blowing between 210 to 220° at approximately 20-25 knots. The conditions were noted as strong and windy, typical for sailing in the area.
Expert Opinions
Italian challenger Luna Rossa helmed by Jimmy Spithill was nearby and shared their thoughts on the conditions before the mast failure occurred. They described the day as productive, with beautiful wind speeds and conditions before the incident.
Possible Future Developments
Alinghi Red Bull Racing will need to assess the damage, replace the mast and repair any additional issues that have been caused by this catastrophic failure. The team will likely be working hard over the coming days and weeks to get back out on the water and testing their boat in preparation for the America’s Cup.
Conclusion
This incident demonstrates that teams competing in the America’s Cup must be prepared to handle unexpected setbacks and be ready to quickly adapt. Alinghi Red Bull Racing has shown great resilience and preparedness for such an event, but it remains to be seen how this failure will affect their overall performance in the upcoming races.
Impressive Performance
New Zealand has showcased an impressive ability to navigate their AC75 catamaran, especially when heeling or sailing off the wind. This skill could prove vital in upcoming races and provide a competitive edge for the team.
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