THE HELMSMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
Always one of the best value commentators, Nathan Outteridge stepped ashore at the Emirates Team New Zealand Wynyard Base after yet another upped-ante day in Auckland of pressured race practice in the team’s AC40 LEQ12 with the one-design AC40 and gave the recon team a wide-ranging interview covering the day, what they’re looking to achieve, how the foil testing is going and a glimpse of the team’s immediate future.
To the naked eye, and from on/off-water recon shots, the new long-span starboard foil looks to be asymmetric with the outboard end curving gently upwards and the inboard end having slight anhedral bend. At the tips, and when viewed from on the water, the outboard end curves forward, whilst the inboard foil curves ever-so-slightly aft. The tips are both squared off and the join around the bulb area is incredibly well detailed and hydrodynamic. The recon team could certainly notice reduced leeway that ultimately produced great upwind height. Nathan gives his view, from his privileged perspective in the video.
A must-watch – Nathan is one of the great communicators of the current America’s Cup.
INTERVIEW: NATHAN OUTTERIDGE, HELMSMAN, EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND
On-Water Recon Unit Notes: Another two-boat day with both yachts towed out to Rough Rock arriving at 10.48 to bend on canvas. J3 and M2 were chosen and on their locks by 10.57. A small run out Rangitoto Channel to a course of 2 nautical miles in length set off Milford and Takapuna beaches where we saw similar pre-start drills to yesterday. Each yacht taking turns to lead in or chase. Not standard entries as both yachts came in on the same board. After the third or fourth pre-start a one lap race would follow with more tacks and gybes than yesterday.
Not having timing meant not really knowing who won each start exactly but it was a fairly even day with my scoring showing the LEQ12 having done better than the AC40 in 6 of the 10 “starts.”
The new foil looks to be both faster and higher up wind and lower and faster down, with a very effective high slow mode.
After the competition of the third set of pre-start and race drills the marks started to be collected at 13.07 and after a good beat in 10-12 knots from the SE the LEQ12 came to a stop off Mechanics Bay at 13.30 to drop sails and prep for the tow back to base
Dock out: 1035 Dock-in: 1351
Onboard the Boats Today
Helms LEQ12: Pete Burling / Nathan Outteridge
Crews LEQ12: Blair Tuke / Andy Maloney
Helms AC40: Josh Junior / Leo Takahashi
Crews AC40: Sam Meech / Marcus Hansen
Wind Strength:
Weather AM: S 10-16 Knots Fine, some cloud. 9°C
Weather PM: SE 8-14 Knots Fine. 18°C
Sea State AM-PM: Chop
Sail Used onboard LEQ12:
M2 Mainsail: 2 hours 30 minutes
J3 Jib: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Tacks: 45 – 43 foil-to-foil, 2 touch & go.
Total Gybes: 35 – 35 foil-to-foil, 0 touch & go.