Alinghi Red Bull Racing was the first team to deliver their AC75 for the 37th America’s Cup to the Barcelona venue, and the Swiss are now the first among the six entrants to break their mast. The failure occurred this afternoon while executing a bear away in 20-knot winds.
“Incidents like this are part of the sport,” said Silvio Arrivabene, team co-general manager. “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.”
During the bear away, the forestay went slack just before the mast buckled in two pieces at a third of its height, with the rig collapsing on the deck and into the water. The hull seemed to have not suffered any major damage beside scratched surfaces on the bow.
Italian challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was nearby, with helm Jimmy Spithill noting how “it was a great breeze and not too rough either, pretty flat seaway.”
