China Team update

Luc Gellusseau talks about his recent visit to the Far East to see progress with the construction of their new Cup boat

Luc Gellusseau, China Team's Chief Operations Manager and Pierre Massé, Project Manager, left last week for Dong Guan China, to follow the progress of the new boat. Luc Gellusseau brings news of developments in the Far East...

You just returned from Dong Guan, what were you doing there?
 
First of all, I left with Pierre Massé and we met up with Frank Pong in Hong-Kong. He invited us to join him for a regatta organized by the Hebebe Yacht Club in which some 60 boats participated. We raced on Jelik, one of two maxis he owns. Her appendages had been recently modified. Frank Pong won the regatta in real time and o nhandicap, which validated the recent work done. We were very happy with the results.
 
From there you went to the boatyard?
 
Yes, Lionel Antognelli the 'onsite' Project Manager was there to meet us. He is in charge of the daily operations at the boatyard during the next four months. Lionel worked notably for a company that makes racing cars and is based in a technology park in Nevers-Magny, France. (The company is well known for making Formula 3 and Formula 1 cars for racecar driving schools...). The techniques and materials for making monohulls and these cars are very similar to those found in making an America's Cup class yacht. In both cases, we use a sandwich of pre-impregnated carbon/honeycomb. Lionel has also worked as a research and development engineer as well as a Technical Director in a medium sized company specialising in hydraulic systems for cars (mainly suspension and braking systems). So he is now installed in Dong Guan for the duration of the four month construction.
 
 How much time did you spend in Hong-Kong?
 
Six or seven hours so we didn't need a visa, and three hours another time. It is a trip that can be done by train, taxi, or in a fast subway for the essential and frequent trips. When we arrived in Dong Guan, we were pleasantly surprised. McConaghy International and Jin Li composites, since our last visit, have set themselves up in the boatyard and are well equipped. There were 35 people working in the yard, and they are in the middle of completing not only our America's Cup boat but also other boats. 
 
In what stage of construction is the future Chinese America's Cup yacht?
 
Three quarters of the moulds have been finished, so it is to schedule and the boatyard has developed excellent logistics for building the boat in the best conditions. The mould is under constant hydrometric control 24/24; the oven is equipped with 72 sensors connected a highly developed electrical control system. McConaghy International and Jin Li have put into place a modern production unit which wasn’t there to begin with.
 
What will take place in the upcoming stages?
 
Daniel Andrieu, who is a member of the China Design Team along with Hervé Devaux and Philippe Pallu de la Barrière, will arrive in Dong Guan next week to double-check the form of the mould before the builders start construction of the actual hull.