CUP BLOG: THE AC75s ARE (ALMOST) BACK
With two confirmed AC75s now back at the team bases of Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, the race to launch and sail is now very real. The 'Road to Naples 2027' is on - and it's all getting very real now.
The news overnight that Emiratesz Team New Zealand's re-vamped 'Taihoro' - the winning boat from Barcelona in 2024 - is back in the team's Wynyard Quarter base after a 4am delivery and its refit to the new Class Rules and Technical Regulations, is a shot in the arm not just for the Kiwi team, but for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup itself.
All the focus will now be on the technical and shore teams to get the boat operational before handing over to the sailing team for the first sea trials. vWhen that will be is a closely guarded secret by both teams but with their renowned operational efficiency forged from deep experience, expect a first 'splash' in the coming weeks.
Emirates Team New Zealand were full of praise for their shore team and boat builders saying:
"The successful return of the boat is a testament to the 'unsung heroes' of the campaign: the Emirates Team New Zealand boat builders. Operating out of the team's bespoke North Shore boat build facility, these craftspeople have spent thousands of hours meticulously refitting the AC75.
This refit wasn't just a maintenance check, it has been a masterclass in Kiwi craftsmanship, reconfiguring the 37th America’s Cup winning Taihoro to the Class Rule and Technical Regulations of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.
As Taihoro was unwrapped in the team base before dawn, the boat has emerged sporting a crisp new aesthetic. While the lines are familiar, the livery remains a tribute to the long-standing partnerships that keep the foils flying. The iconic branding of Emirates, Omega, and Toyota remains front and centre, ensuring the boat looks as sharp as she sails.
Boat Captain Spencer Loxton and the dedicated Shore Crew was there to welcome Taihoro at 4am to get the huge AC75 safely into the cradle where she will be fitted out with the complex internal hydraulic and electronic systems that run the boat."
With Taihoro staying under wraps whilst in public view, and Luna Rossa only showing the underwater profile, the biggest questions of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup remain unanswered - namely the lay-out of the deck with the new five person sailing configuration and the 'Guest Racer' spot. How each boat is configured will be down to the design team's interpretation of the new rules and the relative strengths of the individual's in the respective sailing teams. With one woman sailor now mandated, that 'fifth role' will be a fascinating addition alongside the traditional positions of two dedicated helms, a trimmer and a flight controller.
Plenty of questions still to be answered, but for fans of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, the answers could be just a few weeks away.
Magnus Wheatley