60 1GM Thursday January 14 2021 | the times the times | Thursday January 14 2021 1GM 61 Sport 's Cup America's Cup Sport

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BRITANNIA, FOIL CANT INEOS TEAM UK’S AC75 System Arms Jones: I’m happy to face The hydraulic system, built by the The arms are built by the Italian Luna Ainslie’s toughest Kiwis, that lifts the foil arms in and out Rossa team and are used by all the By Matt Cornwell, three-time America’s Cup sailor of the water. It is the most complex , but how you control them can and now INEOS TEAM UK’s Racing Rules Advisor system ever put into a race . All completely change your manoeuvres. teams have it, but there is a lot of You only want the leeward foil in the any player . . . even Serena wiggle room in how you use the water. The only needs one wing Mainsaii Camber explained system. It cannot ly the boat for you, in the water to ly so the JORGE FERRARI/STF test – can his ‘corgi’ There are two carbon ibre When going downwind but it can tell you how to do it, and windward-side foil is almost always mainsails separated by a you want more camber (shape) how you write the extremely complex out of the water to reduce drag series of small carbon ibre in the to give you power computer software is crucial Stuart Fraser components - the idea is that a little separation Mainsail 1 Hydraulic rams lower the leeward 5 Other modes between two sails creates a arm into the water Tennis more eicient wing shape. Dock Correspondent Those components can be 2 As the boat gains speed the wing mode catch a ‘greyhound’? Camber used to change the sail’s begins to lift the boat shape depending on 3 Stable Before this week Francesca Jones had direction of travel The leeward foil counters the and its relatively ponderous In New Zealand the British If you’re going upwind you wind, stopping the boat from already left many key figures within The British skipper tells Headsails behaviour through manoeuvres has challenger is still regarded as the rank want most of your power low in British tennis astonished at the way she We can choose from an Self Ed Gorman focused on foil design and sails, but outsider. The British effort — which the sail. Too much power up top has battled through adversity to launch he has hit unlimited number of 4 The small area of the wing left Wind righting the British skipper says that almost no enjoys royal backing from the can tip the boat over a career as a professional tennis player. rock bottom but will part of the boat, bar the hull shape, Duchess of Cambridge — was different sized headsails, submerged allows a signiicant But the manner in which she ensured a has been overlooked. “Pretty much compared by one columnist in depending on the wind reduction in drag first grand-slam appearance at next strength Windward never give up on his everything else we have been Auckland to a well-known canine 5 Arms and wings can be month’s Australian Open yesterday foil America’s Cup dream tweaking with some quite substantial breed, favoured by the royal family. controlled individually and put in took them farther aback. changes and some smaller tweaks, but He described the three challenger other conigurations 1 2 The third and final round of qualify- Jones cruised past the more experienced Lu Jia-jing to secure a grand-slam spot pretty much every area,” he said. boats, plus the , Team New ing was the biggest match of the 20- nyone who has followed “Some of that was planned as part Zealand, as: “One greyhound, two 3 year-old’s life, a chance to earn a cheque one has their own challenges, but my ’s career will of our long-term development whippets and a corgi.” The question Leeward Lift for at least £55,000 and secure a seat on Britons heading to Melbourne challenge has been to put myself in a know that among his most programme; some was in reaction to now is whether Ainslie can conjure foil one of the charter flights leaving Dubai physical shape that prevents injuries. impressive qualities is his the problems we were having.” up enough aerodynamic and fluid- CREW for Melbourne tomorrow, so it would Dan Evans Age 30, world No 32 My feet work in a different way and that Cameron Norrie 25, No 74 ability to come back from The issue now is that, as every dynamic to get his corgi to fly HELMSMAN: Ben Ainslie 4 have been understandable had it been a means I run differently. My balance Aa seemingly hopeless position. change is introduced to Britannia, the on a hot summer’s day. nervy affair. Instead, Jones, the world Andy Murray 33, No 123 goes through my feet and toes in a dif- His primary focus is to keep the boat going fast. Everyone is 29, No 14 The problem the 43-year-old faces crew have to learn to sail with that Throughout this difficult time the linked by audio communication systems and Ben is talking at No 241 from Bradford, stepped up with Johanna Konta ferent way. now is that unlike many of his past alteration factored in. Normally you softly spoken Englishman said that all times. He coordinates all manoeuvres confidence, hit her forehand with ease Heather Watson 28, No 58 “In the gym, I have spent a lot of time fightbacks — notably in the Olympics would want months of testing time, as his team have shown their true mettle Double-skin and needed only 61 minutes to cruise to Francesca Jones 20, No 241 trying to gain strength to support my — it is not only he who needs to modifications are fed through to the in adversity. “When you go through a TACTICIAN: mainsail a 6-0, 6-1 victory against Lu Jia-jing, the Katie Boulter 24, No 365 muscles that can support the weakness- Also drives the boat but mainly feeds tactical information Anhedral improve, but a large and complex boat, which are then validated on the situation like we’ve been through as a WINGS experienced 31-year-old from China, es I may have. But I think every human team and the performance of one of water. Ainslie and company, though, team, the whole thing either just falls to the helmsman wing shape who was left as stunned as the rest of us. Australian Open: February 8-21, being has physical weaknesses, unless the first examples of the fastest have no time left and are trying to over and implodes, and everyone MAINSAIL TRIMMER: Bleddyn Mon A lot of the Soon the news spread worldwide of Live on Eurosport you’re Cristiano Ronaldo or something. monohull sailing ever built. cram it all into just a few days. starts shouting and pointing fingers Trims the double-skin mainsail, which is essentially the engine hydro-dynamic design Jones’s endeavours, most notably the I just try to better mine as I would try to While Ineos Team UK’s two rival “We’re definitely seeing an and it’s just a disaster, or everyone of the boat in that it drives the AC75 through the water. He trims goes into the wings on way in which she has not let a rare better myself in any other way.” America’s Cup challengers, American improvement,” he said of Britannia’s pulls together and doubles down and the sail to keep the boat as level and stable as possible the bottom of the cant genetic condition — ectrodactyly ecto- Casal Academy in Barcelona, the same Notably, Jones was the only one of Team Magic and Luna Rossa of Italy, handling through turns. “[But] we are works a way through it. And that’s arms because they are individual to each boat. The rules allow dermal dysplasia, which meant that she venue at which the three-times grand- five British participants in Australian have been progressing in a calm and going to be right on the limit in being been the scenario here,” he said. FLIGHT CONTROLLERS: Leigh McMillan & Luke Parkinson each team to build six wings in total. The wing movements are was born with only eight fingers and slam champion Andy Murray trained. Open qualifying to win a set, and one measured manner, Ainslie’s team able to get it done in time and that But the pressure is on in every In charge of keeping the boat hovering above the water at the programmed in a computer, which can change the angle of the seven toes — end her tennis dream. While not a standout junior on the wonders if other players could learn have been working frantically around will define whether we make it sense if Ainslie is to avoid his second right height by controlling the wing foils wing laps to alter the lift they produce to keep the boat lying at “What an incredible story,” Kim international stage, she has worked her from Jones’s preference to shy away the clock before the through or not ultimately.” consecutive Cup failure at an early optimum height Clijsters, the former world No 1 from way up the professional rankings, from social media — her Instagram challenger selection series starts Fortunately for the British team, stage, to follow his exit from the last GRINDERS Belgium, tweeted yesterday. winning five ITF titles. account has not been updated for more There are six grinders who turn the pedestals on the boat to tomorrow. the Prada Cup starts with a three- Cup in in 2017, when he generate power required to trim the sails. In 2017, Team New Jones can now look forward to lining Jones’s condition has inevitably than two years. Candid as always, the British day round robin when each team was also helming a boat that was Zealand used cyclists to power their boat, but they have up alongside the likes of Serena Willi- brought its challenges along the way. “Social media for me is a platform skipper admits that he has been sail twice against each of their not fast enough. In the coming Headsails ams and Rafael Nadal in what will not Her wrists and ankles come under that can be used to your benefit in some banned that this year - it all has to be upper-body and arm WINDWARD MONOHULL leading the biggest fightback of his two challenger rivals, with Ineos days his sponsor, Sir Jim strength. Two of the grinders have the added responsibility only be her first grand-slam tourna- more strain and she has lost count of ways but I also think at the moment it career and still does not know Team UK first up against Ratcliffe, the Ineos founder, is due of the headsail The 2017 America’s Cup ment, but the first event she has played the number of operations she has had, has a negative influence on society,” whether his team can sufficiently . There is then in Auckland and Ainslie knows hydrofoil boats were fast and of any sort on the main tour after being estimating it to be in “double figures”. Jones said. “I don’t want to get too modify their AC75 thoroughbred, a four-day gap before the that his future as team exciting , but this confined to the lower tiers of the Inter- Her racket grip is smaller to account for caught up in it. I like to stick to tennis Wing Britannia, for it to be competitive. In second set of round- principal and chances of year’s hydrofoiling monohulls national Tennis Federation (ITF) one finger fewer on each hand, and she and to my life. I quite like my privacy in the America’s Cup warm-up round- robin races that will leading another campaign Length 22.86m are completely different, more circuit. The draw takes place on Febru- spends much time honing her footwork that respect.” robin series before Christmas, his decide which boat goes in Ineos colours could Width 5m radical, and something we ary 4, with the action getting under way and balance. It is hard to predict how far Jones can team finished with no points and straight through to the well depend on what Mast length 26.5m have never seen before. Each at Melbourne Park on February 8. With this has come increased mental go as her achievements with this Cant six losses as Britannia floundered in Prada Cup final and conclusions Ratcliffe Weight 6.5 tonnes team’s design is very different, “I’m just super happy to qualify and strength and a noticeable ability to fight condition are unprecedented. Having Arm light winds. which two fight it draws from his time Mainsail size 145m but they are all made of carbon really looking forward to getting out to hard when her back is up against the guaranteed a rise to a new career-high “This is the toughest [fightback] out in the repechage in Auckland. Max speed downwind Approx 50 knots ibre with a honeycomb core. ,” Jones said. “I guess any draw wall during matches. She has an all- ranking of about No 215, a realistic goal because we were absolutely at rock round, starting on “Whether or not You want to sail the bottom of for me would be a fascinating one. I round game with a spin-heavy fore- is to reach the world’s top 100 and bottom really,” Ainslie told The Times January 29. we continue on Max speed upwind Approx 40 knots the monohull as close to the look forward to any match I’ll play, hand that can cause problems for oppo- secure direct entry to future grand- as the work on Britannia’s foils, its rig, This means that with Ineos and water as possible without whether it’ll be Serena Williams or nents, and her drop shots are often slam tournaments. In the likelihood sails and control systems continued in Ainslie’s team have with Jim remains to LEEWARD having too much of it touching another qualifier.” deftly played. that this does not happen before the the yard on the Auckland waterfront every opportunity to be seen,” he said of the TACTICS the water. At the age of nine, Jones left the “I definitely had to work a lot more summer, she is a strong contender for a where the team are based. “We keep working on their billionaire who has given The idea when sailing is you family home for the renowned Sánchez on my physicality,” Jones said. “Every- Wimbledon wild card. couldn’t really be much worse. improvements all the Ainslie more money to spend The big difference with match racing compared to have a high pressure “In a way, for us as a team, and way through the process, on this campaign than any conventional is that it is not about (windward) and low pressure we’ve talked about this as a group, taking advantage of the other British skipper has getting around the course as quickly as possible - (leeward) side to the sail, that is we’ve got nothing to lose now. We’ve rest days in between enjoyed since the Second you just need to get round quicker than the other what drives the boat forward. If team. Sometimes the best way to do that is I’m still good enough, says Cavendish been at rock bottom, we’re coming competitions to continue World War. “I think a lot will Cant the bottom is too high off the back. It was a terrible scenario and their boat development. As obviously depend on how engage with them, upset their race, or try and put Arm water, wind will go underneath hugely frustrating so yeah, to get Ainslie himself has made clear things go here, how Jim enjoys a penalty on them. the boat and get onto the Matt Dickinson Chief Sports Writer 2016. At that point, it seemed almost am not looking to hang on to some- ourselves back on track would be one Britannia has definitely his experience here with the At the same time you need to be aware of what is leeward side, which reduces inevitable that he would surpass the thing or finish my career in any fairy- hell of a turnaround.” improved already, and looks team. But knowing him, as a going on around the racecourse. Where’s the the power of the sails. If too Mark Cavendish believes that he can Eddy Merckx all-time record of 34, to tale way. I just know that I’m still good.” The team are in this mess because quick in medium to fresh person and his sort of fight and strongest wind? What’s the current doing? Our much is in the water, the boat’s still make an impact in big races after add to his palmarès of world road race One hope of the Belgian team is that not only did Britannia fail to win a winds, but light winds still determination, I think it will be meteorology team use wind-prediction models to drag is increased signing for Deceuninck-Quick-Step, champion in 2011, Milan-San Remo Cavendish will be able to offer guidance single practice race last month it also appear to be an issue. great to have him here with the provide pre-race information in minute detail, but though he is too much of a realist to winner, 15 stage wins at the Giro d’Ita- to sprinters such as Álvaro Hodeg, failed as a design project in its initial team and to be able to see how once begins, you are allowed no Wing believe in a fairytale ending to his career. lia, Olympic track medals and more. Fabio Jakobsen and Sam Bennett, who configuration. The effort to overcome Ainslie’s Ineos Team UK boat has hard everyone’s working in communication with anyone on the shore Cavendish has rejoined the Belgian Yet after an extraordinary 2016, he won the green points jersey at the 2020 its reluctance to foil in light winds struggled for pace in light winds trying to turn things around.” team where he enjoyed 48 wins from has endured numerous setbacks, most Tour. 2013 to 2015 and, despite not having a notably the Epstein-Barr virus and a Cavendish was so eager to continue victory on the road for almost three diagnosis of depression. Cavendish was that, according to Patrick Lefevere, the Hamilton to keep black car as he chases eighth title Inglis happy he took ‘huge leap of faith’ to move from South to Warrington Scotland No 10 Weir to return to boyhood club Glasgow years, the Manx rider insists that he still in tears at Ghent-Wevelgem last year team’s chief executive, he helped to has something to contribute. believing that he may have raced for the bring in the financial resources to help Formula One Lewis Hamilton’s Hamilton, 36, is in the unusual Rugby league The Super League is no finest talents of the modern era, he said. “It’s a life experience that Rugby union The Scotland fly half “It’s massively exciting for me to be “How many comebacks have I had in last time. A one-year contract with to pay for his one-year contract: “He Mercedes car will again be painted situation of being out of contract after substitute for South Sydney and the retired in April 2019 after battling a we’re always going to remember and Duncan Weir is returning to Glasgow coming back to Glasgow Warriors,” my career? Even if I am not winning I Bahrain-McLaren came to an end and deserves to have a good season and not black for the Briton’s historic assault his £40 million-a-season deal expired NRL; a freezing winter in Warrington series of injuries. Two months later, that fire in my belly is coming back.” Warriors. The 29-year-old, who first he told glasgowwarriors.org. “Glasgow can add something to this team,” Cav- Cavendish had struggled for results, his to end like Mr Nobody. With his palma- on an eighth World Championship. on December 31. Mercedes are will never compare to an Australian he was diagnosed with bipolar It was his former South Sydney and pulled on a Glasgow jersey from the is my home and Glasgow Warriors is endish said. “I added something last best being 12th on the second stage of rès, his charisma, he deserves a place.” Last year, Hamilton urged confident that Hamilton will stay, summer (Ross Heppenstall writes). disorder after a stint in rehab. new Warrington team-mate, Jason bench against Leinster in April 2010, my boyhood club.” time I was here and this team added the Tour of Poland. Cavendish has not made the Tour Mercedes to change its traditional with reports that he has been offered But as Greg Inglis bids to revive a After arriving in with his Clark, who suggested that he should has signed a long-term deal with the Danny Wilson, the Warriors head something to me. Why not join regard- “If I think I am going to win six stages start-line for the past couple of seasons, silver livery as a message against a one-year deal. once stellar career with the ambitious partner, Alyse Caccamo, last week, try Super League as one last hurrah. Scotstoun club. coach, said: “He’s Glasgow born and less whether it’s my last year or I’ve got of the Tour de France I’m in fairyland,” and it remains to be seen what his pro- racism. The manufacturer is set to “He is on the top of his game and Warrington Wolves, he has declared though, Inglis is adamant he has “We built a strong relationship, so Weir joined Edinburgh in 2016 bred and someone who we believe ten more? I was happiest when I was he said “It’s the strongest team in the gramme will be. “Cycling has been my continue with the colour scheme he will be for a while, so that is why himself healthy in body and mind. made the right decision to move. it’s good to have him here. I know before moving to Worcester Warriors will fit seamlessly back into our here. It’s a dream to be back.” world, it’s been dominating. If it was life for as long as I can remember and it when Hamilton begins his defence of continuing together is a no-brainer,” The 33-year-old full back or centre, “It’s a huge leap of faith, especially there’s going to be a target on my in 2018 and will return to his first squad. His experience will be a real Cavendish, 35, took the last of his 30 about trying to win what I have always will be,” he said. “For now I just his crown in Bahrain on March 28. Toto Wolff, the team principal, said. universally regarded as one of the in the current climate with Covid-19,” head in Super League but that’s fine.” professional club in the summer. asset to the squad next season.” stage wins at the Tour de France in previously, I am a realist, you know. I want to continue to enjoy racing.”