The Bay of Palma threw up some tricky conditions for the ongoing commissioning process of the INEOS Britannia LEQ12, nicknamed T6 but looking very much like an homage to the famous Silver Arrows of Mercedes Benz. The sailors are rotating as was suggested by Sir Ben Ainslie before the Christmas break and looking better and better as the programme progresses.
Today’s helmsmen were Giles Scott in the port trench who was joined in the starboard pod by recent 5.5 Metre Gold Cup winner, Ben Cornish, who did a pretty spectacular job for a first time helming an LEQ12. Speaking afterwards Cornish acknowledged the hours spent in the simulator saying: “Once you’re locked in and in the groove it’s all very as expected…a lot of simulator time trains you up for this and nothing really comes as a surprise at that stage.”
Section 41. Reconnaissance
a) As a campaign cost reduction measure, COR/D has mutually agreed to cooperatively implement a centralized reconnaissance programme for all teams for the reconnaissance of all Competitors’ AC75 Yachts, AC40 Yachts and LEQ12 yachts including both on-land and on-water imagery (the “Joint Recon Programme”).
b) Each team is assigned a two-person Recon Unit to follow their every on-water move, but it’s not that simple. The cameras are supplied and identical for all Recon Units. Drones are not allowed, and they can’t get that close, plus following a boat and keeping a camera steady at 45 knots isn’t that easy to begin with.
c) A three minute interview follows each on water day, and teams must answer the Recon Unit’s questions while trying not to give too much away. It’s a raw, unedited view of the never before seen behind-the-scenes development of a team and their boat to win the oldest trophy in international sports.
