Please select your home edition
Edition
Sail Port Stephens 2026

America's Cup- AC72's caught on the edge of tornado + Video

by Richard Gladwell on 7 Dec 2012
Emirates Team New Zealand training with the team’s first AC72 on the Hauraki Gulf on Day 28 Chris Cameron/ETNZ http://www.chriscameron.co.nz

Auckland was hit by a tornado yesterday (Thursday) with devastating damage and the loss of three lives.

Both America's Cup Challengers were out training in the Hauraki Gulf at the time and were on the fringes of the violent weather system.

Winds just west of the team's bases were recorded at 50kts gusting 60kts for a brief period, further down the harbour it was 30kts gusting 40kts.

Sail-World spoke to both teams last night and despite the high winds there was no incidents or damage. The peak wind reported was 26-28kts in the 2000/04 America's Cup course area where both teams were training separately.

Emirates Team NZ has published a video of the day showing their AC72 sailing at over 42.5kts in awkward seas, including the start of a couple of nosedives.

Maritimo M600Festival of Sails 2026Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTER

Related Articles

Record 100 entries for Tre Golfi Sailing Week 2026
Anticipation is growing as Naples and Sorrento prepare to host the prestigious event As the Tre Golfi Sailing Week 2026 approaches, the event has already attracted more than 100 entries from 16 countries, confirming it as one of the most anticipated sailing events of the year.
Posted today at 11:22 am
Entries open for the 30th Superyacht Cup Palma
Europe's longest-running superyacht regatta enters a new era The Superyacht Cup Palma will celebrate its landmark 30th anniversary in 2026, combining three decades of racing heritage with expanded class options that reflect the evolving world of superyacht competition.
Posted today at 10:15 am
17th China Cup International Regatta
30 FD Future dinghies race over four days in Shenzhen The 17th China Cup International Regatta kicked off on the 12th of December over four competition days till the 16th of December 2025.
Posted today at 8:16 am
A Race That Defines Offshore Performance
Two Iconic Teams, One Unforgiving Race Every year, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race draws the world's attention to one stretch of ocean on the east coast of Australia. 628 nautical miles of unpredictable weather systems, unforgiving ocean conditions, extreme fatigue and consequence.
Posted today at 4:00 am
Australian Foiling Sprint Championship 2025/26
Louis Tilly and Bridget Conrad: Welcome to the All-Stars! The Australian Foiling Sprint Championship delivered two days of epic sprint racing. The Aussies lead the way with the sprint formats, having held dedicated sprint events at national and state level since 2024.
Posted on 19 Dec
29ers at the Youth World Sailing Worlds overall
Britain and Poland Crowned 29er Youth World Champions in Vilamoura The Youth World Sailing Championship concluded today in Vilamoura, delivering a week of high-level racing and intense international competition across the 29er class.
Posted on 19 Dec
Youth Sailing World Championships 2025 overall
Champions crowned in Vilamoura Eleven Youth Sailing World Championship gold medallists were crowned on Friday as action came to an exciting conclusion in Vilamoura.
Posted on 19 Dec
Armstrong Women's Week - Tarifa 2025
Armstrong Foils' Women's Week celebrates the powerful and global community of female foilers Armstrong Foils' Women's Week celebrates the powerful and global community of female foilers who are shaping the future of our sport.
Posted on 19 Dec
Under the Skin of Argo
How a MOD70 Is Prepared to Race the Atlantic Have there been any major structural or systems checks as part of bringing Argo back to race-ready condition for the Transat?
Posted on 19 Dec
Blistering Jules Verne Trophy start for Sodebo
Mainsail hook hampers The Famous Project CIC The Ultim Trimaran Sodebo, with Skipper Thomas Coville and his team, started their Jules Verne Trophy round the world record attempt on the evening of 15th December 2025, and have made an incredible start as they head down the Atlantic.
Posted on 19 Dec