ROCK SOLID DAY FOR EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND
The new working week kicked off in earnest for Emirates Team New Zealand with an early roll-out and a six-hour session on the Hauraki Gulf with the wind steadily building from 7-9 knots up to 18 knots by mid-afternoon.
The recon team on the water noted an emphasis on straight-line sailing and various modes that the team were running with two boards being deployed at times for safety on the close to the line pre-start manoeuvres, and a bow-up pitch to accentuate rudder immersion. As the afternoon breeze kicked in, there was much debate between using the J4 or J5 jibs with several changes and the recon noting a much slower speed-build out of tacks and gybes on the smaller J5.
Seb Menzies was again on the port co-helm with skipper Nathan Outteridge in the starboard position and supported by Andy Maloney and Iain Jensen with Jo Aleh in the fifth pod. Speaking afterwards, Menzies reflected on the differences between sailing an AC40 to an AC75 saying: “I guess the 40 is quite bouncy, it’s obviously lighter and you feel the waves a bit more – and the AC75, it just feel pretty solid.”
Watching the team’s performance today was a lesson in solidity. Taihoro looked supreme, riding low upwind to close out the gap between the hull and the water surface, and using quite a wide cant on the immersed leeward foil, often with the outboard wing tip breaking the water. Timed runs into the line looked controlled with the team deploying two boards down for ultimate control – a regular occurrence in heavier air and when the team has ‘time-to-kill’ in the final approaches whilst racing.
All round a rock-solid day for the Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples in 2027.
ETNZ Training Report
The boat rolled out at 0815 with Rig No.3 in at 0825, splash at 0850, 0957 off the dock. ETNZ stopped the tow just off North Head on the Hauraki Gulf with conditions of 10–12 knots E and flat water with a small chop building. At 10:36 the mainsail (M3-0) was on lock and the jib (J4-2) was hoisted. ETNZ began sailing at 10:43.
ETNZ warmed up with a long windward leeward, practicing multiple tacks and gybes. Notably the boat was generally flatter through all manoeuvres. Some bigger windward heel in the top bear aways. Small leeward heel was introduced to the tacks with an even pitch attitude and middle to low catch on the traveller. The warm-up progressed to 2 board down snake turns with some variation in these manoeuvres with bottom boat speed numbers and higher speed 2 board down turns. They then stopped sailing at 11:16 am and brought a media person onto the 6th spot.
Sailing started again at 11:29 am with some long windward leewards. Pitch of the boat was notably more bow up attitude. More leeward heel was introduced into the tacks and gybes, traveller mostly centre line and pitch through the manoeuvres was noticeably unstable. This was followed with more 2 board manoeuvres. The wind increased to 11-12 knots and sailing stopped for a jib change to the J5-1.
Sailing started again at 12:17. A big downwind run with some tacks. The speed builds looked noticeably slower out of the manoeuvres on the smaller jib. Sailing was stopped at 12:41and the jib changed back to the J4-2. There were also noticeable shape creases in the bottom 3rd of the mainsail.
Started sailing again at 1:07. Top Mark gate was laid, and top mark approaches were practiced followed by prestart practice. On a final approach the boat nose-dived, and the jib was slow to come back on. The boat stopped sailing and the jib quickly changed. it was unclear if the clew was broken or not. Batteries were also changed. The breeze built to 14knts.
1:53 sailing started. Sailing upwind followed by a big round up around 2:15 and sailing stopped. There was a downstairs systems check.
2:28 Sailing started again. Breeze and sea state building. 12-16knts
2:44, Pre-starts were practiced and Full circle with 2 boards down. Notably lots of 2 board down pre-start practice.
2:57 Stopped
3:35 Sailing towards north head with some snakes, bear aways, turn ups and some pre-start approaches to towards Chase One on the way.
Breeze built to 16-18 with medium sea state. Sailing finished for the day.
Crew onboard:
Starboard helm: Nathan Outteridge
Port helm: Seb Menzies
Trimmer: Andy Maloney
Trimmer: Iain Jensen
Starboard hull (behind helmsman): Jo Aleh