Valuable Lessons from an Incident
On Tuesday 7 July, during a training session off Lorient, La Roche-Posay Racing Team’s AC75 rolled onto its side following a systems failure. The crew were unharmed; the boat was towed back to the team’s base, where it was placed in the hands of specialist technicians carrying out a full series of appropriate checks.
Antoine Carraz, Technical Director of La Roche-Posay Racing Team, looks back on how the incident unfolded, the condition of the boat and the implications for the team’s sailing programme.
The Incident
_What happened off Lorient on Tuesday?
“A systems failure caused a loss of control at low speed, resulting in the boat rolling onto its side. The team on the water immediately implemented the established safety procedures. The boat was then righted, secured and returned to our operational base.”
_Has the behaviour of the AC75 changed under the new rules?
“Yes. The Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup requires the foils to be approximately 400 kilograms lighter. Their weight helps keep the boat upright when it is still travelling at low speed and the foils are not yet generating sufficient lift.
“With lighter foils, there is less resistance to the boat rolling. The AC75 is therefore more sensitive to instability during acceleration, deceleration and transitional phases. In such situations, its behaviour can be closer to that of an AC40, which is lighter and more responsive.
“The sailors must therefore establish a new set of reference points. In that respect, Tuesday’s incident provided them with a particularly tangible learning experience.”
Assessing the Damage
_What is the condition of the boat following the initial inspections?
“Our AC75 underwent a thorough examination as soon as it returned to the base. The structure is intact and no major damage has been identified.
“Water did, however, enter the boat, causing the batteries to heat up, although neither the structure nor the boat’s interior was affected. A number of electrical components were also damaged as a result of the water ingress.”
_Will the repairs take long?
“We want to take the necessary time to understand the precise sequence of events, inspect every system and implement any improvements that may be required. There would be no benefit in rushing the process.”
The Consequences
_What impact will this have on the sailing programme?
“We had five sailing days remaining in this training block, which we will no longer be able to complete. We will make up those days either during the August session or later in the autumn, while remaining within the maximum allowance of 45 sailing days in 2026.
“In the meantime, the sailors will make productive use of their time ashore by working on the simulator and analysing the initial data gathered since sailing resumed.
“Incidents of this nature are part of operating boats of such complexity. They may also become more frequent as a consequence of the lighter foils.
“What matters is that we draw every possible lesson from the experience. Our safety procedures were tested in real conditions, and the team responded with great composure. Everyone understood their role and carried it out effectively.
“Ultimately, this experience has strengthened our confidence in the team and in our collective ability to deal with situations of this kind.”