America’s Cup: Alinghi Red Bull Racing capsizes after first sail in Barcelona
America’s Cup team Alinghi Red Bull Racing has capsized its AC75 Boat Zero after its first sail in Barcelona yesterday (31 August 2022).
Challenger for the 37th America’s Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, said that after a successful day of sailing, the AC75 Boat Zero was hit by a violent rain squall, which developed over the city of Barcelona on Wednesday afternoon (31 August 2022).
According to the team, while towing back with sails down, the boat bounced into the wind and was pushed onto her side. Some of the crew members were knocked overboard but were recovered by the support team.
“Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s Boat Zero suffered minor damage to the port foil arm and to the hull. We will be back on the water soon, carrying on with our preparation for the 37th America’s Cup,” says Silvio Arrivabene, co-general manager of Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s Boat Zero was the first AC75 to sail the 37th America’s Cup venue and first hit the water in Barcelona on 8 August.
The America’s Cup teams have recently selected their bases in the host city of Barcelona. Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli and two-time Olympic champion Hans Peter Steinacher announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing in December 2021.
According to Sail-World, wind recordings from a nearby land-based station show a relatively light breeze changing rapidly in direction, and increasing to an average of 25 knots, and likely gusts well into the mid-30’s accompanied by driving rain. These readings could have been higher in the sailing area.
