Cup Spy April 27: Breeze a 'no -show' for Kiwis - shortens session
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 29 Apr 01:08 NZST
28 April 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand- AC75 - Day 11 - April 27, 2024 - Auckland © Sam Thom / America's Cup
Emirates Team New Zealand were the only team to sail on Saturday. The Kiwis struck a nothing day, which at best had a fickle breeze - allowing some foiling on a single tack, but without their new wingfoils days like these are just time on the water - and good for getting the wrinkles out of the AC75 which has been sailing for just over two weeks, and has about a week left sailing in NZ.
Days like this would have been highly valuable had the Kiwis had their new wingfoils fitted. Today was an ideal test of light air foiling capability, and on the same course, and condition that caused both the Defender and Challenger so much grief during the 36th America's Cup in 2021.
What happened in the Cup - April 27 (and 28), 2024:
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - sailed off Cagliari yesterday, (April 26) The Italian AC75 is the first they have had since 2021, and may require a slow induction and commissioning. However they are getting into the sailing before their move to their Barcelona base.
- INEOS Britannia - tow tested off Barcelona yesterday, (April 26). The British AC75 is the first they have had since 2021, and may require a slow induction and commissioning.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing - sailed off Barcelona yesterday, (April 26). They are resuming where they left off with their first AC75 , upgraded to Version 2 of the AC75 Class Rule. The Swiss are he only team sailing an AC75 with the new Version 2 wingfoils - which as we pointed out previously are lighter, and longer and should be thinner than the legacy wingfoils being used on Emirates Team NZ and Luna Rossa. AC75s in the new configuration, and being 900kg lighter, should be significantly better in these marginal foiling conditions, than those of old. We still don't have a soundly based view as to whether Alinghi Red Bull Racing are a step up from the AC75s which sailed in the 2021 America's Cup.
- Emirates Team New Zealand - The Kiwis sailed today, and have sailed eight of the last 11 days - which is a very high percentage - especially with a new boat. They have had a mixed bag of weather - either top end or bottom end of the wind range. Conditions today were very light, and didn't improve. They didn't sail on Sunday (28th) - even though it was a light-medium (6-10kts) strength day from the NE. They are expected to keep sailing until early May, resuming in Barcelona in early July.
- American Magic - reveal their AC75 unexpectedly on April 25. At first glance the US boat shows a strong influence from Te Rehutai and its later progeny, the AC40. This is practicably evident in the bow treatment and the interface of the bow with the foredeck. No word on when the new AC75 will go sailing.
- Orient Express Racing Team - Their AC75 is the other yet to be revealed. It is to an Emirates Team NZ design.
AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:
Emirates Team New Zealand - AC75 - Day 11 - April 27, 2024 - Auckland
Day 11 of sailing Taihoro AC75 started bright and early this morning with the team heading off the dock at 08:30hrs into a light southerly breeze that was forecast to drop over the morning. Towing out of the harbor, stopping near Rough Rock marker, the team went into hoisting M2-1 [mainsail] and J2-1 [jib]/
Popping onto the foils under their own power, however, at the bottom end of their foiling ability, the team set sail downwind out of the Motuihe channel and into the "back paddock" [Course E from the 2021 America's Cup]. Completing some light wind maneuvers sailing down the channel and then rounding up onto the wind sailing towards Eastern Beach at the western end of the paddock. The team fell off the foils during a couple of tacks as they exited the maneuver, quickly gaining enough speed to get flying again. During a bear away, the team failed to keep foiling, falling off the foils to wind and eventually coming to a stop after not being able to regain flight under their own power.
After roughly 35 minutes of sailing, the team stopped and dropped sails, towing back into the harbor and finishing the sailing session.
Recon had an interview with Dougal Allan, a cyclor for ETNZ, to discuss his role within the team
Crew - Sailing: Peter Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney
Crew - Power: Cam Webster, Louis Crosby, Louis Sinclair, Marius Van Der Pol, Simon Van Velthooven, Marcus Hansen, Dougal Allen, Sam Meech
From: AC37 Joint Recon Team - Sam Thom and Connor Mashlan
Emirates Team New Zealand - AC75 - Day 11 - April 27, 2024 - Auckland
- Weather: 11-16° mostly fine
- Wind Strength: 5-10kts
- Wind Direction: 180° - 240°
- Sea State: Flat
- Crane In: 0735hrs Dock Out: 0830hrs
- Dock In: 1015hrs Crane out: 1100hrs
- Total Tacks: 0
- Total Gybes: 0
Additional Images:
This commentary was written and compiled from video, still images and statistical content extracted from the AC37 Joint Recon program and other material available to Sail-World NZ, including photo files and other on the water coverage from the 2010, 2013, and 2017 and 2021 America's Cups. Its format is intended to give Sail-World readers a snapshot of all teams' progress on a given day or period.