Sailing-Double act chemistry is key to calm in storm of America's Cup

BARCELONA : Francesco Bruni jokes about being a 'couple' with his co-helm Jimmy Spithill, such is the intensity of the relationship between the sailors who share the steering of the Italian AC75 in which they hope to take on New Zealand for the America's Cup.

The duo were the first to adopt an unconventional 'co-helming' set-up for the new generation of futuristic, high-speed America's Cup monohulls, which 'fly' just above the water on hydrofoils at speeds which have hit more than 55 knots.

Italy's thinking was to gain an edge by splitting the role of driving the design-led craft, taking it in turns depending on the "tack" the boat is on and avoiding time lost and potential mishaps of an individual having to scurry across the hull.

While some may have quietly mocked when they used the approach at the last America's Cup in Auckland in 2021, at the 37th edition not only did defenders New Zealand adopt the same model, so too did all the potential challengers.

Bruni is full of praise for Spithill and the partnership.

"It's fantastic. I'm very lucky I had this experience in the last Cup and I'm having a new one now, so I feel like the luckiest person in the world," he told Reuters.

"We have a great relationship ... and we try to learn from each other a lot and whenever someone is down we try to raise his confidence, so we are working well together," Bruni said, adding that their dialogue is very open and disagreements few.

"He is a great person because he never points fingers and I try to do the same as well," Bruni said of his "mate".

'THROUGH THE TRENCHES'

What is evident from the on-the-water communications which are broadcast live during the America's Cup challenger series, in which Italy and Britain are pitted head-to-head for