AC40 AT THE MAX
A blustery spring day allowed Emirates Team New Zealand to continue finding the limits of the AC40 with the helms Nathan Outteridge, Josh Junior and Andy Maloney, supported by Blair Tuke and Pete Burling on trim pushing harder and harder.
Stats:
Wind Strength (PM): 10-23 knots Wind Angle: SW
Current: Incoming Slight
Dock Out: 0900 (Dock In: 1600)
Total Tacks: 11 – 10 foiling, 1 splash down and go
Total gybes: 11 – 11 foiling
Helms: Nathan Outteridge, Andy Maloney, Josh Junior.
Crews: Pete Burling, Blair Tuke
Sails: M1 (used for 2.5 hours) J3 (used for 2 hours) J2 (used for 0.5 hours)
Top speed touched 46 knots in the pocket-rocket that is the AC40 as the south westerly wind topped out at 23 knots with gusts in excess and a sea state that the recon unit described as ‘moderate.’
The team started with the J2 jib but quickly changed down to the J3 for over two hours of the two and a half hour session, completing 11 tacks with 10 fully foiling and 11 gybes all foiling.
As the team pushed, a mis-communication on the foil raise led to a capsize with the shore team in and the boat righted and back sailing very quickly. The recon team notes state: “At 10:25 the boat looked to be bearing away for a gybe, the leeward foil lifted too early causing the boat to crash down rolling to windward and capsizing. Boat was righted again within 2 minutes.”
Speaking afterwards on a windy dockside, Pete Burling made the following statements:
“Absolutely amazing little boat and to be able to be out there on day five and sailing around in 20 knots is pretty cool.”
“Definitely a lot of things we’re trying to set up a lot more simple than you’d have for one-design and what the fleet’s going to be used for down the road.”
Speaking about the development and the auto-pilot: “Everything’s improving right across the board. We’re still very much in the commissioning phase of this boat so everything’s getting better and better in the way people are using systems. Good gains across the board and the auto-pilot is very much part of that as well.”
And what about that capsize: “Very much a user error. We raised the wrong board – the board we were supposed to be using for foiling! One of the more boring, mundane capsizes that you’ll do – it’s all part of getting used to it.” (Magnus Wheatley)
Recon Panel Note: To date, no official requests have been made by other AC teams with regards the AC40 programme.
