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America’s cup: Alinghi Red Bull Racing dismasted, but it wasn’t the first

America’s Cup: another date to note in the diary of the 37th Louis Vuitton Americas’ Cup: 13 June 2024, the day of the dismasting of BoatOne, the AC75 of Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The accident occurred on a perfect day, with what the locals call “strong Garbi” and therefore wind from 210-220° at 18-20 knots, and sea waves between half a meter and 80 centimeters with a slightly more northerly direction compared to the wind. A day that saw at sea, in addition to Alinghi Red Bull Racing, also Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Orient Express. (Here all our posts about America’s Cup)

America's Cup
BoatOne’s mast bends and is about to break. From AC Recon video

Sudden breakup

Alinghi Red Bull Racing, which had left its base as always at 12.00, had carried out a long test session with the only interruption about two hours after leaving the base for the change of cyclors and batteries. Then, having raised the jib, he resumed the tests until, around 3.00 pm, BoatOne carried out a change of board at maximum speed. At that point the mast first bent about a third of the deck and then broke and fell downwind.

America's Cup
The final stage of mast breaking. From AC Recon video

America’s cup: the mast breaks and falls into the sea

Everyone safe on board and immediate intervention by the team who, having recovered the mast trunks, brought BoatOne to the base. “Incidents like this are part of the sport. 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.” Said Silvio Arrivabene, Co-General Manager of Alinghi Red Bull Racing. 

America's Cup
The recovery of mast stumps. Photo © Ivo Rovira / America’s Cup

It also happened at Luna Rossa

It was January 27, 2020 and the Luna Rossa mast also came down. It happened in Italy during training with the “old” AC75 in front of Cagliari and, fortunately as for Alinghi, no one got hurt. Luna Rossa returned to the water after a month and resumed training in view of the World Series which was to be held in Cagliari two months later, from 23 to 26 April. But then that leg of the World Series was cancelled.

America's Cup
Luna Rossa’s mast falls. Photo © Carlo Borlenghi / Luna Rossa

America’s cup: the precedent in 2000

However, Luna Rossa had already suffered a dismast during the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup, which saw the debut of Patrizio Bertelli’s team with Francesco De Angelis as helmsman at the America’s Cup. In Auckland in a semi-final race against America One with the helm Paul Cayard broke the connection between the shroud and the third spreader. Luna Rossa managed to make amends and finished the semi-final in second place, again meeting America One in the final. It ended 5 to 4 for Luna Rossa.

America's Cup
The exciting final of the Louis Vuitton Cup 2000 between Luna Rossa and America One. It was 4-4.

But it also happened to Team New Zealand

The 31st Americas’ Cup in Auckland was an edition to forget for Team New Zealand. In the first race against Alinghi with all the “traitors” on board the Swiss boat, starting with Russell Coutts, the boat risked sinking; in the fourth he dismasted. Three men ended up in the sea and with that accident Alinghi went 4-0. Two days later Alinghi finished with 5-0.

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Team New Zealand dismasted in the Hauraki Gulf. Photo © Bob Grieser/Louis Vuitton

America’s cup: +39 Miracle Challenge

Valencia, second day of racing of Act 13 of the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007. In the crowded approach to the first mark (there are 11 boats racing) the masts of the German boat, United Internet Team Germany (on port tack) and that of +39 Challenge (was on starboard tack) are touching. The one (brand new and just assembled) of +39 Challenge, breaks down. +39 is the Italian team of Circolo Vela Gargnano, a challenger full of Olympic champions such as Luca Devoti, skipper, silver in the Finn in Sydney 2002, Iain Percy, the helmsman, four bronzes and a silver in the Star and Rafael Trujillo, the trimmer, silver in the Finn in Athens 2004. But so many medals do not correspond to as many money. Another Italian team, Mascalzone Latino and Alinghi offer their reserve mast. The jury says that’s not possible. In one week the entire +39 Challenge team led by project manager Sebastiano Rech Morassutti, against all odds, repaired the mast and +39 Challenge returned to racing.

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Act 13 of the Luis Vuitton Cup 2007. +39 Challenge immediately after dismasting.

Taihoro ahead of Spain

Arrival in Europe on Thursday 20 June. This is what www.marinetraffic.com says for the cargo Baltic Spring carrying Taihoro, the AC75 of Emirates Team New Zealand, all its equipment and the hydrogen chase boat that the Protocol of the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup requires of all teams.

America's Cup

For Baltic Spring, the first port after leaving the Panama Canal and crossing the Atlantic is the Spanish port of Tarragona. There are about ninety miles to go to Barcelona.

Emilio Martinelli 

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