The Italian team commenced their LEQ12 testing day promptly at 10:00hrs, with the mast stepped and the yacht craned in by 10:15hrs.
Standard checks were carried out at the dock before confirming readiness for dockout, initially scheduled for 11:00hrs but later postponed to 12:30hrs. With a crew of four sailors on board, only the flight trimmers rotated throughout the session.
Near the harbour pier, the main sail was hoisted and paired with the J2-2. Initial pressure readings indicated 11-13kts from 155°, accompanied by a slight chop of 0.3-0.5m from 145°.
Similar to the previous day, the foiling began with a gentle tow to accelerate the yacht, which then self-launched on port tack. Warm-up tacks were followed by gybes as the team adjusted to the conditions. Despite the shifting seabreeze, the leeward gate was left at 150°, with Chase-boats acting as markers.
As the yacht approached downwind, normal one-board round-ups were practiced, followed by numerous pre-start drills focusing on maneuvers inside the box. The team then sailed two upwind and downwind legs, concluding the first foiling stint after approximately 50 minutes, with a brief debriefing before the next session.
The second foiling stint, lasting around 20 minutes, involved additional start drills, with Chase-3 occasionally engaging with the LEQ12 to enhance onboard communication. However, the yacht splashed down during the third foiling stint, prompting a quick assessment by sailors and shore crew.
No major damage was observed, and the yacht resumed foiling at 15:00hrs for the fourth stint. Two additional starts were practiced, with a minor interruption to remove debris caught on the windward port wing.
The fifth and final foiling stint lasted 10 minutes, concluding the day’s activities at 15:50hrs. The session totaled 138 minutes of foiling time, with approximately 45 tacks and 33 gybes. Sailing will resume with two boats on Thursday.
