Louis Vuitton Cup Day 7 Recap: Super Saturday Highlights and Key Developments
Cup Spy: Louis Vuitton Cup – Day 7 – Super Saturday – Significant Seaway – Preview
Welcome to the Live Coverage of Day 7 of the Louis Vuitton Cup – Super Saturday, September 7, 2024.
Following a no-race day on Friday, strong winds swept through Barcelona overnight, leaving behind a significant residual seaway. The size of the seastate exceeds expectations given today’s anticipated wind strength of 8-12 knots from the south. However, this breeze will help maintain the swell size.
Winds of 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots, were recorded overnight. The wind increased around 4:00 PM and continued until midnight. At Olimpic Port, the wind was recorded between 15-20 knots from an easterly direction from midday Friday until 3:00 AM, dropping to 7.5-10 knots by dawn.
This marks the first time the AC75s will compete under these conditions during the Louis Vuitton Cup. Fortunately, it is expected that these conditions will align with the breeze, allowing for more consistent performance.
Flight controllers allowing the AC75s to fly high risk sudden nosedives or wash-outs, particularly if the rudder T-Foil attempts to operate out of the water.
Predicting individual boat performance is challenging, as we have yet to see the AC75s race against each other in recorded events. Results heavily depend on crew performance and errors, which have primarily influenced earlier races rather than boatspeed.
Today’s races will likely determine the first team to exit the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The bottom-placed Orient Express Racing team must win the third match of the day against American Magic. Alinghi Red Bull Racing needs to secure at least one victory in its matches against INEOS Britannia or Emirates Team New Zealand to guarantee a place in the Semi Finals.
Weather Prognosis:
America’s Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has provided a dedicated Race Weather Center, offering fans detailed daily weather analyses, live webcams, and historical weather data.
Provisional Forecast for Race Day 7:
Saturday, September 7
The morning will see the strong South-East winds from the previous day weaken. The wind is expected to shift to a Southerly direction, with speeds around 7 to 10 knots for the afternoon racing. Residual waves from the previous day will likely measure approximately 0.7 meters, coming from the South-East at 120°. Sunny conditions will return in the afternoon, with temperatures reaching up to 29°C on land and 26°C over the water.
Sunday, September 8
A weak North-East wind is anticipated for Sunday, bringing along some rain.
Racing Programme for Saturday, September 7, 2024
Match 22: USA vs ITA
Start: 14:10
Port: USA Stbd: ITA
Match 23: GBR vs SUI
Start: Time to be announced
Port: GBR Stbd: SUI
Match 26: USA vs FRA
Start: Time to be announced
Port: USA Stbd: FRA
Match 27: NZL vs SUI
Start: Time to be announced
Port: NZL Stbd: SUI
Match 25: ITA vs GBR
Start: Time to be announced
Port: ITA Stbd: GBR
Louis Vuitton Cup Points and Leaderboard after Day 5
Virtual Eye
Sail-World will be utilizing Virtual Eye from ARL for America’s Cup coverage—a tool that first emerged in the 1992 America’s Cup and has since transformed the coverage of many top professional sports.
After the racing, fans can replay key points or entire races using Virtual Eye from ARL. This 3D viewer allows users to zoom in, out, around, and up and down as if flying in a helicopter.
Series Format:
The competition consists of two phases of Round Robin racing. A total of four races will be sailed with six teams competing, where two teams will race twice. Race pairings and details can be found in the graphic below.
Provisional Course Location:
Luca Moretti, an accomplished sailor and marine journalist from Genoa, Italy, has a lifelong passion for the sea that has defined his career. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Genoa, Luca is celebrated for his vivid and insightful storytelling. His work captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime traditions of Europe, making him a well-respected voice in the sailing community. When he’s not writing, Luca can be found exploring the Mediterranean’s picturesque coastlines and competing in regattas, always seeking new adventures on the open water.