Flying boats packed with technology, the monohulls that compete off the coast of Barcelona at crazy speeds have relaunched the America’s Cup. To the great delight of the sponsors.
Barcelona, Mecca of sailing. Since August 29, the capital of Catalonia has hosted the America’s Cup, the oldest sporting trophy on the planet (1851). Until the final phase in mid-October, some 200,000 people will follow the regattas between the defending champion Team New Zealand and its five challengers: the British Ineos Britannia, the Italian Luna Rossa, the American American Magic, the Swiss Alinghi and the French Orient Express Racing Team. The races, which last 20 minutes, have little in common with the first editions of the Cup when tycoons John Pierpont Morgan and Thomas Lipton competed on schooners. Equipped with high-performance appendages (foils), the AC75 monohulls literally “fly” above the water at speeds of almost 100 kilometers per hour.
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Sensors, optical fiber, on-board electronics, mechanical and hydraulic systems, boats are high-tech concentrates. With their helmets, masks, microphones and protective vests, sailors look like F1 drivers. This change has not escaped the automobile industry. Mercedes AMG is a partner of Ineos, Red Bull of Alinghi, Toyota of Team New Zealand, Pirelli of Luna Rossa, Alpine of Orient Express.
Sponsors disseminate their technologies
“We’re like F1,” says French union boss Stephan Kandler. “The difference is that our energy doesn’t come from oil but from wind.” The America’s Cup’s performance and technology are also of interest to the watch industry. Alinghi has partnered with Tudor, Team New Zealand with Omega, Luna Rossa with Panerai.
No watch brands for Orient Express Team Racing. The Frenchman, whose title partner is the Accor group, has nevertheless attracted major sponsors (L’Oréal, Photomaton, Alpine) and official suppliers (K-Way, HP, Saur). L’Oréal was won over by the new format of the C[…]
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- challenges.fr
