Sail-World.com : America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ's AC 72 sails for first time
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ's AC 72 sails for first time
|
Emirates Team New Zealand took its AC72 sailing for the first time on July 31, 2012 - on a cold, wet Auckland winter’s day.
As a very watery dawn glow started to light Auckland, the AC72 was wheeled from the shed, mated to the wingsail and lifted into the Viaduct Basin.
There it sat while a few last-minute adjustments were made and the crew waited for some breeze.
Sailing time was delayed several times as team meteorologist Roger Badham monitored weather radar and computer models and kept the sailing crew, impatient to leave the dock, informed.
Finally at 1pm the big cat was towed out in the Auckland Harbour and did not return to base until after dark. The breeze was still very light and rain was threatening.
Three chase boats containing designers, engineers, systems experts, boat builders and specialists accompanied the cat, intently watching its every move
The breeze in the outer harbour varied from zero to 8-10 knots and the sea was flat. Rain came in the squalls.
'It is good to get the first sail under our belt,' Grant Dalton said. 'Overall the weather could have been better but the wind was ideal for a first sail. It’s what we had waited for.
Dalton said the day, while unspectacular, was productive. 'We know more about the boat than we did this morning and that’s why we go testing.'
Up to the end of next January, teams are permitted only 30 sailing days in the AC72. Emirates Team New Zealand intends to make every sailing day count.
A sailing say is defined as the yacht releasing the tow for only five minute. The team plans to sail from dawn to dusk when conditions are favourable.
by Warren Douglas
Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall
http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=100679
9:00 AM Wed 1 Aug 2012GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
Click for further information on
2013 America's Cup
2011 Emirates Team New Zealand news
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
|
|
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact
Sail-World.com
as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com, Marinebusiness-world.com or NZBoating-World.com.
Contact us
.
Ph: +61 2 8006 1873
or complete our
feedback form
Contact us
.
View our Privacy Policy.
[ Go Home]
[ Banner Advertising Specification]
[Bot Archive ]
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples
|
CLD
| | |
