segunda-feira, 19 de março de 2012

ARTEMIS RACING primeiro a mostrar a asa do AC72


© SANDER VAN DER BORCH / ARTEMIS RACING

Fonte: América's Cup

Artemis Racing is first out of the shed with a big AC72 component - the first wing we've seen - and it's BIG.

The wing was first spotted at the team's training base just outside Valencia, Spain on Tuesday, when it was craned on to an ORMA 60-foot trimaran.

On Thursday, the tri sailed with the wing for the first time.

The team calls the wing a work of art and notes it is the result of more than 35 000 man-hours of work... The 40 metre high structure, predominantly built of carbon fibre, measures 260 square meters yet weighs just over one tonne.

“It was a team effort. It was amazing to see the wing out on the water. It looks great, but at the same time threatening. We will be going through a series of structural tests in the next few days,” said Principal Designer Juan Kouyoumdjian.

As you can see in the image above from team photographer Sander van der Borch, the AC72 wing dwarfs the one on the AC45. In fact, as Artemis Racing says its wing is 260-square meters, it is three times as big as the AC45 wing (85 square meters - before the extensions are added). To give some context, a professional tennis court is 195 square meters.

So we know it's big. Remember the wing is just one aspect of the AC72 that's huge. The downwind sails - the gennaker - will also be many multiples as big as they are on the 45... I really can't wait to see one sailing!

There's not too long to wait now. Teams are restricted in the Rules from launching AC72s until after July 1st, but those with 72s under construction are expected to launch soon after the deadline passes.

Artemis Racing was also the subject of an in-depth profile by CNN Mainsail. Three segments have been broadcast and you can see them online here.

- Peter Rusch


Copyrights: Sander van der Broch

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