Just after 4pm local time in Cagliari, Luna Rossa wheeled their updated AC75 out from the heavily secured main tent on the Molo Ichnusa, giving the world its first look at the boat the Italian syndicate believes can end their 26-year pursuit of the America's Cup.
The outing was kept deliberately short, amounting to little more than an hour on the water with a 20-minute run into the Bay of Angels and back. Peter Burling, the team's new skipper and figurehead, was at the controls from the starboard pod, seated directly behind Vittorio Bissarro in the wind-shield protected forward starboard trim role. On the port side, Umberto Molineris filled the trim position while Marco Gradoni steered from behind him. Gianluigi 'Gigi' Ugolini was observed in the fifth person role, positioned behind Burling.
Rather than chasing performance, the session focused on the boat's updated electronic systems, with close attention paid to the foil cant arms and rudder pitch angles. Recon observers covering the tow test gave a detailed account: "The team rolled out B3 for re-commissioning with a new paint job on the arms and stocks and some minor modifications were noted on the arm stocks including a shorter torpedo. Several cameras with previously tested housings were mounted: Two on port wing and four on the starboard wing (including two GoPros), suggesting additional local focus."
The recon team went on to report: "At the dock, the team carried out several board-rises involving sailors, along with checks by personnel below deck. After dock-out at 1800, B3 was towed for approximately 20 minutes at various speeds of 25, 30, and 32 knots. Different rudder rakes were tested for pitch variation, along with various cant angles to alter immersed wing amount. Increased piercing on the starboard wing was noticed. By 1900, the team had docked and lifted the boat out of the water. Sailing is scheduled to resume next week for the first official sailing day."
