Luna Rossa: America's Cup without secrets

Once upon a time there was the America's Cup, a tale of intrigue and spies where anything was allowed as long as you could glean the secrets of the adversaries’ boat. Although the most notable case remains the attempt to photograph the "winged" keel of Australia II in 1983, the history of the Cup is full of more or less notorious episodes of espionage. Helicopters, scuba divers, dinghies, telescopes, mini submarines: all was allowed to discover the innovations devised by other teams. The first step towards eliminating secrecy was the abolition of the Unveiling, once a much-anticipated day on the eve of regattas when boats were shown without veils for the first time (even if at that point it was too late to copy any structural solution).

Today the transparency project reaches its peak with the Recon program, introduced for the 37th edition by the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand to ensure that participating teams can all share the same information on boat development and keep tabs on the actual sailing days.

Matteo Plazzi, Rules Advisor and Recon manager for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, together with Ivo Rovira and Michele Melis, the team's two official spies, tell us how it works.

«The Recon program», says Plazzi, «ensures that the information that was once “stolen” from individual teams is now collected within the team itself and shared on a platform - accessible to all America's Cup participants (and selected media) - where technical reports, photos and videos regarding boat development are uploaded. The Rule provides for a Panel (Recon Management Panel), consisting of one representative from each Cup syndicate, to manage and coordinate the program, while simultaneously choosing the spies».

Each team is assigned two people, a photographer and a boat driver, who follow all the training days, prepare detailed reports with videos and photos, and then put this material at the disposal of the others. «The Teams», continues Plazzi, «cannot go out to sea or make radical changes to the boat without notifying the Recon; this means we have to share our entire sailing program with them, but not all the information».

There are, in fact, very precise limits that the spies must respect and rules to which they are obliged to adhere, «both for safety reasons and to ensure uniformity of the information shared».

One of the most "sensitive" moments, from the point of view of secrecy, is the "rollout" when the boat leaves the hangar (obviously off-limits to spies) and is prepared for launching. Recon assists, photographs and films this operation, but strictly within the "Recon squares", i.e. two rectangles painted on the ground at a 25 m distance from the mast placement point. Also, to be immediately recognizable, they wear vests with the Recon sign clearly printed on their backs.

Once the boat is at sea, the spies board a rib (provided by the team) and follow the session. Filming boats as powerful and fast as the Luna Rossa prototype is no easy feat: «In no way can they interfere with the manoeuvres », Plazzi continues, «and since they cannot communicate with the crew, therefore know how and where the boat will move, they must stay behind her at all times. Crossings or maneuvers that may endanger their safety and ours are categorically forbidden».

What about the spies? What is it like living on the other side of the fence in a "forced" coexistence with a team from which, for business, you try to steal secrets?

«It's like playing hide-and-seek», says Michele Melis, the "technical" spy and boat driver. «Our job is to find out Luna Rossa's secrets and theirs is to keep them hidden. «Everyone is good in their own field. The important thing is to respect the rules on both sides».

Sardinian, multilingual and a naval engineer, Michele is the one who chooses the parts of the boat to focus on, positioning the rib at strategic angles and directing the photographer's lens. «We get a partial input from the other teams and in part I choose which areas of the hull to shoot. I've always found the world of the America's Cup fascinating, and as an engineer, when the opportunity to see the hulls live came along, I didn't pass it up», he says.

Ivo Rovira is an experienced Spanish photographer who, having worked for the Swiss team Alinghi in the 2007 edition, knows the world of the America's Cup well and can capture the most spectacular and significant moments of a boat under sail. «After a work period that took me away from the sea and sailing, I am happy to return to the America's Cup world», he says. «When I was offered this position I jumped at it and moved to Cagliari with my family. For me it is a new and very interesting experience, a different way to relate to the America's Cup. Personally, I get along great with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, I am happy to be with this team. There is mutual respect and I always feel welcome».

Back at the dock, the Recon team has the right to interview a team member (of choice) on the training just completed; then Michele will go to prepare his report, while Ivo will begin post-production of photos and videos to send and share.

Given the pros and cons of this program, can the Recon experiment be considered useful?

«Knowing and seeing what others are doing is always useful», Plazzi concludes, «because anyone can have the good idea, even your opponents, so yesterday, as today, any information about other boats helps; but it is also important not to be distracted by this massive information and stay focused on your own project».