LUNA ROSSA AC45 HELMSMAN CHRIS DRAPER APPEARS TO HAVE A REMOTE CONTROL IN HIS HAND.
Luna Rossa has been testing two AC45 catamarans converted for foiling. In this photo, it looks like helmsman Chris Draper has a remote control in his right hand – perhaps for controlling rudder rake and daggerboard rake and cant. Remember that the Protocol allows the teams to test a wide range of ideas by modifying an AC45 or by building a new boat from scratch based on just the lower part of the hull shape of an AC45. The AC62 Class Rule allows the rudder to be raked up to three degrees while racing and the daggerboard to be raked up to 12 degrees and canted 15 degrees. We can assume that all teams will be testing daggerboard shapes and control systems for appendages and wings on their AC45s, since they cannot launch their AC62 until 150 days before the beginning of the America’s Cup Qualifiers – probably in September 2016.
If you want to dive into the details, you can download the AC62 Class Rule here.