After going through some modifications, the AC72 has been back out on the Bay training for this upcoming summer. Loïck Peyron talks about how these recent modifications have improved Boat 1:

The Artemis AC72 might not be foiling yet but still, it does provide some spectacular photos, courtesy of team photographer Sander van der Borch:

The Artemis AC72 in full action. San Francisco, 10 April 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

The Artemis AC72 in full action. San Francisco, 10 April 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

The Artemis AC72 in full action. San Francisco, 10 April 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

The Artemis AC72 in full action. San Francisco, 10 April 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Better late than never. Loïck Peyron trains on his Moth in front of the Artemis Racing base in Alameda and hopefully what the French sailing legend learns will be applied to Artemis Racing’s second AC72 boat. The excellent shots are courtesy of Artemis Racing team photographer, Sander van der Borch:

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Loïck Peyron foiling on his Moth. Alameda, February 2013. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Finally, a very interesting and sincere video from Artemis Racing, talking about the ongoing modifications on the team’s AC72, instead of the usual irrelevant stuff such as cars or frisbees…

[Source: Energy Team] Energy Team has set itself a clear goal: the 35th America’s Cup. Loïck Peyron is now the helmsman for the Artemis AC72 for the 34th… which is a huge advantage in terms of his preparation. So, it will be Yann Guichard at the helm of the AC45 flying the colours of Corum for what lies ahead in the 2013 World Series, which will be taking place in Naples and then in the United States. Antoine Mermod, technical director of Energy Team tells us more:

“The whole of the 2013 season is already set to focus on the 35th America’s Cup,” Antoine Mermod began by telling us. Things have been moving quickly over the past few weeks. With Terry Hutchinson’s departure from the Artemis team, Loïck Peyron has officially become one of the two helmsmen on the AC72, the Swedish team’s big multihull. Loïck is no longer merely the speed coach, but the helmsman along with the young Australian, Nathan Outteridge. In other words, Loïck Peyron has a fifty-fifty chance of steering the Artemis AC72 in the America’s Cup races next summer in San Francisco.

Energy Team’s focus has now shifted to the 35th America’s Cup. Photo copyright Stephanie Billarant / Energy

YANN GUICHARD AT THE HELM OF THE ENERGY TEAM AC45

“Loïck’s move to Artemis is, of course, excellent news for Energy Team,” declared Antoine Mermod. “After racing in the 33rd Cup with Alinghi, Loïck is acquiring a huge amount of experience in the 34th with Artemis. This is a major asset for ENERGY, which united around Bruno, has been focusing for several months on the 35th Cup.” At the same time, the crew of the Energy Team AC45 is continuing to work and build up its experience. Yann Guichard, who was already heavily involved earlier in the season, will be taking the helm of the French winged catamaran for what lies ahead in the AC World Series in Naples in April and then in the United States in May. “I’m pleased that Yann will be taking the helm” stated Loïck Peyron, “His huge skill at the helm and his ease on this type of boat means it is right for him to take the wheel for the rest of the season. This is exactly what we had planned.”

That is what it makes it so interesting for Energy Team to have two top class helmsmen. While one gains experience on the AC72, the other is able to continue to lead a high standard crew. Yann Guichard will be at the helm with the usual team around him: Christophe André (Bowman), Devan Le Bihan (foredeck) and the two Arnauds: Psarofaghis as wing trimmer and Jarlegan taking care of the headsails.

YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE

The crew will be back aboard the boat in San Francisco in February. “We have scheduled a training session lasting a fortnight,” explained Antoine Mermod. “To continue to progress, there’s no secret about what is required: you have to get out there sailing. We’ve been involved in this project now for two and a half years and more than ever, the goal is clear: victory in the 35th America’s Cup. We now have all it takes to be able to do just that.”

As for the Youth America’s Cup, Energy Team has decided to support the youngsters in the French Youth Team. They should be qualifying to compete next September in an event taking place between the Louis Vuitton and America’s Cup. Energy will be enabling this young team to train in February in San Francisco. One again here, the goal is clear: to build up a pool of young talent to form a top class group with the 35th America’s Cup in mind.

Artemis Racing AC72 Update 3

[Source: Energy Team] After four trips aboard the Artemis AC72, Loïck Peyron, skipper of Energy Team, gives us his first impressions of this impressive winged giant, with her exceptional size, her potential for power and her high speeds…

Loïck Peyron: “We have sailed aboard her four times and she is extremely powerful. That isn’t that much of a surprise for me, as I have spent a long time looking at the design of these machines, but it is still all very impressive. To sum up, these are boats that aren’t that wide or that big, but which have a very powerful “engine”. To get an idea of what I mean, it’s a bit like putting a V8 or V12 engine on a go-kart. So it is no easy matter making use of all that power. We saw what can happen when Oracle capsized. These machines require caution. My job was to be something like a test pilot on this AC72. I’m here to find just how far we can take things and avoid those hairy moments, when the boat starts to dig in, for example. Already by the second or third trip, I found myself out there on the helm and I can say it’s fascinating.”

What is the difference from an AC45?
LP: “They don’t have that much in common. Proportionally, the AC72s are much more unstable. Because looking at the base, the engine is that much more powerful. You need to add on a third more power to an AC45 to get some sort of idea. And then, there is the sheer scale: everything is that much heavier, including the wing, of course and the centre of gravity is not that well placed, as it is higher up. On top of that, there is a lot of inertia… the “engine” is extremely powerful, but above all she is always in gear. And of course, you can’t take in a reef…”

The Artemis AC72 yacht on her second day of sailing. San Francisco, 16 November 2012. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing

Capsizes ahead?
“Yes. Of all the boats I have sailed on, she is the trickiest. When you start flying downwind, it is very impressive and that is one of the major questions that interest us: you need to find a compromise, knowing when to fly, but above all without using too much energy to do that. For me, flying aircraft for more than twenty years, it is very interesting. After each day out there sailing, we need to spend several days ashore fine-tuning the boat on every level. For the moment, we are just working on boat number 1, but we have already got some ideas about the second one. With the first one, it’s rather like racing with 30kg on your shoulders. Once the second boat is on the water, that weight won’t be there any more.”

High speed?
“Very. For the moment, we’re taking it step by step deliberately, so we’re not out there looking for the highest speed. But we have already reached 26 knots in just 10 knots of wind.”

A useful experience for the Energy Team project?
“In every America’s Cup there is a transfer season between the teams. I’m a bit like a jobbing actor going from one team to another, or maybe more like a Swiss army knife for the team – that’s what Ernesto (Bertarelli) called me when I was with Alinghi. Of course, and it is quite normal, I have certain obligations and have to keep certain info to myself: there are certain things I can’t share with others, but it is obvious that bringing all these experiences together benefits everyone. I am in fact the first member of Energy Team to be hired by another team, but I probably won’t be the last. With Bruno and Energy Team, we have managed to build up a pool of talent. If we manage to get everything together for the next Cup, all of these experiences will be useful For the moment, from a personal perspective, this is an exceptional opportunity to try to make it all the way with Artemis, or in other words right through the Louis Vuitton Cup and further if possible…”

[Source: Artemis Racing] Artemis Racing, Challenger of Record for the 34th America’s Cup, announced today that French multihull legend Loïck Peyron will sail with the Swedish team during this month’s AC72 training.

“It is fantastic to have Loïck join Artemis Racing. Loïck has no peer when it comes to large multihulls.” said Paul Cayard, CEO of Artemis Racing. “As we have seen, these AC72’s will be a real challenge here on San Francisco Bay and having someone of Loïck’s experience will certainly be advantageous.”

Peyron has an extensive background of achievements in multihulls in both inshore and offshore racing. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s he won the ORMA Championship four times, the Single-handed Transatlantic Race three times, and just this year won the Jules Verne Trophy setting the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in just 45 days. Peyron has been the skipper for Energy Team France in the 2012 America’s Cup World Series (ACWS).

“I look forward to working with these great guys in San Francisco. Thanks to my new role with Artemis Racing, Energy Team will be gaining the experience of the 34th America’s Cup at the highest level,” said Loïck Peyron. The Peyron brothers and their Energy Team will continue with the AC45 on the ACWS circuit next year and are aiming to participate in the 35th America’s Cup.