America's Cup: Challengers training on the Hauraki Gulf in 20-25kts.
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 30 Dec 2020 14:04 NZDT
30 December 2020
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - exits the Waitemata Harbour - December 30, 2020 - 36th America's Cup © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com
Two of the America's Cup Challengers sailed on the Hauraki Gulf in 20-25kts of breeze.
For British entry, INEOS Team UK it was her second outing on the Waitemata since the Xmas Cup, almost ten days ago.
The Brits towed out foilborne as is their usual way, and headed for Course E and the Tamaki Strait, which separates Waiheke from the mainland. There were no obvious signs of any alterations - and being foilborne any changes to her wings were beneath the surface.
Luna Rossa followed an hour later and turned left to head out into the Hauraki Gulf. This is the fourth training session for the Italian since the America's Cup World Series.
We managed to catch both AC75's as they returned to Auckland this evening, sailing home in a 20kts SW breeze (offshore) gusting 25kts.
INEOS looked to be handling the conditions well and looked fast, but as we have seen in the America's Cup World Series, Velocity Made Good is a more telling number than boatspeed. Similarly for Luna Rossa when she returned a few minutes later - fast reaching in the fresh breeze along the North Shore beaches.
Of the other two teams, American Magic sailed immediately after the World Series event and has been off the water since. Emirates Team NZ has not sailed since the World Series/Xmas Cup.
Given that most of Auckland seems to be on holiday, we took advantage of the light traffic to catch both teams as they hauled out.
It would seem that INEOS Team UK is continuing to test wing shapes, with a complex wing shape being tested on the starboard foil arm, against a much simpler shape on the port foil arm.
Luna Rossa hauled out with two wings that appeared to be of the same design pair.
The Challengers must declare their configuration of their race boat on January 13, 2021 for the first round of the Prada Cup which starts on January 15, 2021.