Calculate wind and waves
The silhouette of the boat is graceful when it doesn’t roar. Up close, the sound is thunderous, born from speed and the friction with the sea. Alinghi Red Bull Racing has been strolling along Barcelona’s beach for weeks as America’s Sailing Cup approaches, even though the event isn’t scheduled to run until September and October 2024. There is plenty for the city to experience before, during, and after the races.
As of this Wednesday, the team has completed 58 workouts. At this moment the Swiss crew holds the lead on the water, with rivals from New Zealand, the United States, Britain, Italy, and France not landing in the Catalan capital until June. They will then train with their monohull boats for the necessary rehearsal period.
Three Tracking Boats
This Formula 1 on the water attracts a swarm of engineers. The sessions cross the urban landscape, moving from the port cranes to the Sant Adrià de Besòs chimneys and the Diagonal Mar towers. It isn’t just one team in action; three boats chase the monohull at the same pace: the testers go with two boats, while two others act as observers, sometimes called spies.
There is a service called Recon, run by the organizing body, that documents and photographs every training day, even using drones. It makes team progress visible to all, ensuring everyone has access to the same information. Professionals in reconnaissance form another essential link in the Cup because teams are only now beginning to assemble in larger numbers. From Alinghi Red Bull, roughly 120 people are based in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Mataró, and Barcelona, all tuned to the sea.
bases in short
The Port of Barcelona delivered welcome news on Wednesday. One reason the destination was chosen is that no new infrastructure was required. In the coming weeks the six teams will gradually sell off their AC40s, and later the AC75, while other facilities like an administrative area and a reception desk will come online. There were even plans announced for a dedicated store bearing the Alinghi Red Bull brand.
The boat’s form remains striking even without sound, but the real spectacle arrives when moving at speed. The hull rises with the foil as the craft accelerates, demanding careful wind and wave calculations as it nears turns. A veteran sailmaker on the crew explains that the foils bite into the air and water, and precise speed adjustments are necessary during direction changes to keep the craft balanced and fast. In training runs about three to six miles from the Barcelona shore, the AC40 can hit speeds around 45 knots.
During these workouts the team keeps a keen eye on the environment, adjusting tactics as conditions shift. The hum of activity is a constant, a sign that preparations are winding toward a major international showcase.
In this high-tech setting, the event is less a single race and more a tightly choreographed performance of design, data, and discipline. The organization’s daily recordings, drone footage, and public progress updates create a transparent narrative that keeps every participant aligned. The scale of coordination mirrors the ambition of the Cup as more teams join the scene, all converging on Barcelona with their best crews ready to compete.
Barcelona’s port has welcomed the project with open arms, recognizing that the city can host a large-scale event without new construction. The broader plan includes showcasing the teams’ AC40s, later transitioning to the AC75, alongside an administrative hub, a reception zone, and branded merchandise. This framework aims to turn the on-water spectacle into a comprehensive festival around the sailing calendar.
In summary, the Alinghi Red Bull racing program in Barcelona blends speed and precision with urban energy. It is a proving ground where cutting-edge sailing technology meets real-life logistics, all orchestrated to deliver a world-class sailing cup experience in the heart of the city.
Attribution: This report reflects official team communications and event coverage from the Barcelona venue, with ongoing updates as the regatta advances.