Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ resume on the water testing after 5 weeks in Lockdown

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 30 Apr 2020 08:51 AEST 30 April 2020
Te Kaahu under towing trials on the Waitemata Harbour - April 30, 2020 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

Emirates Team New Zealand resumed their on the water development and testing program this morning after being forced off the water on March 23rd by the Alert Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown.

After dropping their test boat Te Kahu into the water at 8.00 am, the 12metre foiling monohull was put through a tow-test to check some new modifications that have been ready for testing since the day prior to the national lock down.

On the basis that test was satisfactory, the team was expected to sail-test the new design feature later in the day.

The government ordered lockdown has cost the team almost six weeks of their vital development time, which is unlikely to be recovered by rearranged scheduling.

Grant Dalton told Sail-World by phone: “Emirates Team New Zealand is a commercial enterprise in terms of COVID19 Alert Level 3 and its test boat is an extension of that business activity. We have been in communications with all appropriate parties and received a letter from MBIE that did not disagree with this position. Co-incidentally NZ Marine Industries Association announced today, that they had negotiated some easing of the Alert 3 rules to allow sea-trialling and movement of vessels.

Late last week Emirates Team New Zealand announced that it was using personal social distancing devices developed by Dunedin's Igtimi who are also responsible for developing the GPS based positioning hardware and software for use in the regatta and vessel management for the 36th America's Cup regattas. All crew used the devices today, and instead of design crew being packed into two chase boats, four were on the water to allow greater personal separation.

The loss of valuable testing time on Te Kahu, was compounded by the four months wasted after their AC75 Te Aihe shipped from Auckland to Europe to compete in two America's Cup World Series regattas, in Cagliari and Portsmouth. Both regattas were cancelled in mid-March. That decision came a couple of days too late for the America's Cup champions who'd been forced to tranship in Singapore and send the AC75 to Italy.

Late last week, Italian challenger Luna Rossa sailed several days, off their base in Cagliari, Sardina after fitting electric engines to their AC75, and replacing six crew to achieve Italian social distancing requirements for COVID-19.

Construction of the New Zealand team's second AC75 and likely race boat in their North Shore construction facility, resumed on Tuesday as permitted by the reduction in Alert Level and additional safety procedures required to work while under Level 3 restrictions. They are working around the clock to make up the 9000 man hours of build time lost during the Level 4 lock down.

Related Articles

Dalton claims Alinghi are still recruiting
Emirates Team NZ CEO claims the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi are still actively recruiting. In the course of a TV interview following the announcement of the venue for the 38th America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO claimed that the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi, were still actively recruiting, despite being in an "orderly wind-down". Posted on 17 May
Naples to host 2027 America's Cup
The fight for the Auld Mug will take place under the watchful shadow of Mt Vesuvius The Government of Italy, in conjunction with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, are pleased to announce Italy as the Host Country and Naples as the Host City for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup to be held in 2027. Posted on 15 May
America's Cup: Brit in core ETNZ sailing team
Kiwis sring surprise with the inclusion of British sailor Chris Draper in their core sailing squad. Emirates Team New Zealand have announced their core sailing group, with the major surprise being the inclusion of British sailor Chris Draper. Nathan Outteridge is named as skipper to replace the departed Peter Burling. Posted on 14 May
America's Cup: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary
May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand in San Diego, on May 13, 1995. Noted international journalist Barry Pickthall looks back on the Challenger series and the Match itself. Posted on 13 May
America's Cup: Part 1 - Big Bad Dennis returns
Set in the year 3156, this story on the 414th America's Cup takes us far into the future Set in the year 3156, no physical boats exist. Far too costly and disruptive to the delicate environments involved, the event is conducted entirely through simulation—broadcast from multiple orbital stations, home of all industrial and economic activities Posted on 8 May
America's Cup: Dalton pushes back on Swiss claims
More to Swiss withdrawal than disagreements over the draft Protocol says Dalton. Grant Dalton: "It has been somewhat obvious for some time that they have been struggling to recover from their lack lustre performance in Barcelona last October and give themselves an ‘on water' opportunity to win in AC38." Posted on 20 Apr
America's Cup: Alinghi confirm exit and wind-down
"We have not been able to find agreement with the Defender of the America's Cup" Twice America's Cup winner Alinghi has issued a statement saying they will not enter the 38th America's Cup, after taking issue with some measures in the draft Protocol. Team members were told last week. A media statement was issued Saturday afternoon. Posted on 19 Apr
Cup Spy: Kiwis make another tough call
The split between Peter Burling and Emirates Team NZ wasn't seen coming outside the team Todays's announcement of a split in the long relationship with Emirates Team NZ and its skipper, three times Cup winner Peter Burling wasn't seen coming outside the team, although rumours had been circulating on the Auckland waterfront for a month or two. Posted on 11 Apr
America's Cup: Burling leaves Team NZ
Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways ahead of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 11 Apr
America's Cup: Proposed Cup changes
Several parties associated with the America's Cup have talked of radical changes coming. Loose-lipped UK parties associated with the America's Cup have revealed radical changes being mooted for the way the America's Cup is to be organised for future events. But will they gain gained traction, this time? A lot has changed in 20years. Posted on 8 Apr
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSCIBS 2025