Little America's Cup gallery - 2

Christian Fevrier's amazing images from the final battle between the US and Australia

Cogito, the succesful 1996 challenger. Duncan MacLane, helmsman and Eric Chase here in sailing practice.



Cogito in sailing trials. Crewman Eric Chase stays to leeward as the boat reaches. Here they are testing T-foils rudders. They were not used for the races against The Edge, probably because they created too much drag. But it was a good idea to help prevent pitchpoling.




The challenger was very low on the water to reduce the drag as well as boat weight. According to Dave Hubbard Cogito weighed only 176 kilos. In comparison in 1974 Miss Nylex was 410 kilos!

Cogito at speed. Note there is one single sheet only for the skipper/helmsman Duncan MacLane, to open the wing and twist the rig. To me Cogito is the most efficient sailing speed machine ever built (with restricted rules). ACC yachts look like dinosaurs alongside such a display of creativity and efficiency.