America's Cup- Emirates Team NZ claims near 40kts in AC72 + Video

by Richard Gladwell on 30 Aug 2012
Emirates Team New Zealand are claiming that their AC72 launched in July, achieved speeds close to 40kts sailing yesterday on the Hauraki Gulf.

The speeds were achieved on just the fourth day of sailing in the 72ft catamaran which is the first of its type to be launched in the world. Wind speeds at the time were about 20kts. The AC72 returned to her base with no damage, and the test sail was deemed a big step forward for the team, by Emirates Team NZ's Grant Dalton, who was aboard the team's tender after returning from San Francisco.

Of the other teams with AC72's, Oracle Team USA fitted their wing but postponed a scheduled launch today, in San Francisco. Artemis Racing are commissioning their ASC72, which was unloaded in San Francisco last week, but the team broke their first wingsail while testing on an ORMA60 in Valencia. Luna Rossa are assembling their first, and only AC72 in Auckland with a launch expected in late September or October.