America’s Cup: America’s World Series starting Thursday in Auckland
How did you get into this American Magic team?
This is my sixth America’s Cup. I have already worked twice at Oracle, once at Team New Zealand, once at Prada. It’s a small environment and we offer our services two years in advance and once we get in, it’s gone for two years. In this American team, it is part of that of Oracle with whom I was already. We know each other and it’s easier to get places. But as I don’t have a lot of competitors in the field (2), I was a bit spoiled for choice.
Why did you choose the American challenge?
It’s a question of feeling. As it lasts a long time, you have to be sure that it works well for two years because it is not always easy. There are quite a few factors that come into play. Like traveling: sometimes it is not more complicated to go to the United States than to England.
You are an expert in mechanical and composite systems: what exactly is your role?
I am responsible for all non-destructive testing on the boat. We do ultrasound, thermography and other tools that we have developed during the campaigns to limit the risk of breakage as much as possible or at least anticipate them. On the boats there are many sensors. As the loads are constantly measured, when the guys come home in the evening, they explain to me that in such and such a place, they had overloads. And me, I will look to see if there was no beginning of damage to the structure. It can be at the level of the hull, the mast, the rudders, the foils… And since we always push to the maximum and we are always at the limit of breakage, it is important. It’s once the boat enters the hangar that my day begins.
How many of you are working to keep the boat on top?
It’s a bit like in a Formula 1 team. There are still 140 people working for a boat. At American Magic, we are eight French, including two from Brest. There is also Steven Robert, who is a structural engineer. When we see the speed of the boats today: with 10 knots, they can go at 40 knots. In the starting phases, they are at 50 knots! Obviously, there are monstrous efforts at all levels. And when I made my diagnosis, behind there are people who still have something to do. There are engineers who work afterwards. We have to be able to anticipate the repair right away. There are people who work at night and shift. It’s almost day and night. It’s a big chain and it’s going super fast.
Has switching from multis (in Bermuda in 2017) to monohulls changed anything for you?
Not really for my job. But there are still evolutions in the methods of structures so we have to adapt and question ourselves from one Cup to another. We must not forget to evolve in diagnostic techniques. It’s something you do between Cups to be ready from the start of the next one with new tools. You have to go faster and faster to solve the problems. The time factor is essential now. We must make conclusions immediately.
Are these AC75s amazing boats?
There have been three boats built in Bristol (near Newport) since the start of the campaign: a 12m model and two AC75s. These are large masses: it’s 23 m long, it weighs 7 tonnes and when you see them reaching over 50 knots, it’s amazing …
Do these boats that sail at impressive speeds break a lot?
No, but small breakages can cause big problems. If all is not perfect, the boat does not work, but does not work at all. Since there are so many hydraulics and electronics, it is fighter jet technology. We work a lot with Airbus, which works on hydraulics because it is comparable to airplane wings.
How does the American AC75 differ from other teams?
In the shape of a hull, the boat is more typical for medium or strong winds, while the English are characterized for light and medium weather. The wind probabilities in March are rather medium to strong but these are statistics. There, the architectural and foil choices are made. The structure of the foils is one-design but for all assemblies and shapes of foils, everyone does what they want. There are big differences. Now we can’t go back. The die is cast. There (Tuesday) there was a friendly match and if Luna Rossa beat Team New Zealand, we beat Team New Zealand. It’s going to be very open.
(1) Quatre équipes : le defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL, Glenn Ashby), les challengers American Magic (USA, Dean Barker), Luna Rossa Prada (ITA, James Spithill) et Ineos Team UK (GB, Ben Ainslie).
(2) Jacques Le Berre, nicknamed Doctor of Carbon, is an expert in mechanical and composite systems in Brest.
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