The America’s Cup World Series (ACWS), events which should allow the four teams (Americans, British, Italians and New Zealanders) in the running to gauge each other aboard the AC-75s, barely began that a first controversy broke out. between the New Zealand and British challenges.
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Unable to complete his two races due to foil problems, Ineos Team UK skipper Ben Ainslie explained that the problem had come from the system which allows the foils to be raised or lowered in the water, depending on the edge. monitoring, a system that is common to all sailboats entered.
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He especially suggested that Team New Zealand, defender of the America’s Cup and as such “organizer” of this edition, had been reluctant to share certain information likely to solve the problem. ” We probably lost weeks on the water having to manage the foil tipping system », Railed Ainslie, four-time Olympic sailing champion.
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Words “totally incorrect and false”
The New Zealand challenge immediately replied and lambasted comments “Totally incorrect and false”, claiming that all four teams used the same components and were responsible for their maintenance. “Team NZ knows from experience that if all maintenance and launch procedures are followed correctly, the system will work as expected., he said in a statement. As far as the defender knows, the Ineos Team UK foil tipping system is fully operational. “
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These preparatory regattas, without sporting impact on the 36th edition of the America’s Cup (6-21 March), continue until Saturday, before the “Christmas Race” on Sunday. The serious things will begin in January with the Prada Cup which will pit the three challengers. The winner of this competition will face Team New Zealand in March at the America’s Cup, which celebrates its 170th anniversary in 2021.
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