Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

America's Cup Rialto: Oct 3 - A nice steady day for Emirates Team NZ

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 3 Oct 2020 16:54 PDT 4 October 2020
Emirates Team New Zealand - Waitemata Harbour - October 3, 2020 - 36th America's Cup © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

Light winds in the form of a patchy 10-12kts westerly offshore breeze, made Saturday a steady day on the Waitemata Harbour.

At this of the America's Cup, if there is a criticism of Emirates Team New Zealand, is that they look a bit too smooth and slick. Are they pushing themselves hard enough to stay ahead of the Challengers?

Yet to be announced is how they are going to manage their buildup once the Prada Cup gets underway, and the Challengers are able to sail against each other - but as Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand can only sail alone, or against a second boat they own.

Obviously, the team get plenty of testing benefit from a good day like Saturday, but as Head of Design, Dan Bernasconi confirmed earlier in the week, the Kiwi team have caught up from their COVID-19 lockdown experience and are back on their original roadmap for the 36th America's Cup. The team is in its final test routines and are ready to step across to their second boat and race boat when it comes on stream - expected to be November.

After towing out foil-borne due to the light winds, Te Aihe set up on the old America's Cup course are well out from the East Coast Bays of Auckland's North Shore, and did a series of runs that took them closer to Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Penisular at the northern end of the inner Hauraki Gulf and 15nm from the team base in downtown Auckland.

The team got away around noon, carrying a couple of TV sports media aboard the chase boat who were transferred to the AC75 and each rode in the 12th crew member position at the stern of Te Aihe.

Around 1600hrs the Kiwis returned (with all the rival recon teams having seen enough for the day, and long gone home) and had some issues dropping their #1 jib, requiring a crew member to be lifted to the forestay attachment point, presumably to remedy a halyard which had jammed in its sheave.

That issue sorted, Te Aihe hoisted what appeared to be a #3 headsail and did several runs on the Stadium Course - Course C - in a breeze which had freshened nicely and appeared quite steady with even pressure - even close to the container terminal.

With New Zealand having just clicked onto Daylight Saving Time, this scenario was interesting in that it was conducted at the same time and in the same patch of water as the majority of the Cup racing is expected to take place.

As discussed previously the breeze for the day has usually settled in nicely by 4.00pm and hangs around to 6.00pm or later.

Emirates Team NZ has spent more time in this area than the only other Challenger in Auckland, American Magic - who often opt tow out and back through this racecourse. While the inner Waitemata Harbour is near useless for speed testing, it is a fact that the teams will have to be adept at coping with fluctuating pressure and direction, along with the vagaries of tidal flow both in the harbour channel and on its edges.

With the pending arrival of the other two Challengers on the Waitemata, it will be interesting to see if they put any weight on late afternoon training sessions on the Stadium Course, or opt for the more comfortable long runs out in the old America's Cup courses.

We have yet to see Te Aihe or the now decommissioned Defiant trying to fly and furl a Code Zero on the confines of Stadium Course, although both obviously have trialled the big jib set from the bowsprit on runs out in the Gulf, or on the occasions when they pass through the Stadium Course on their way to the test area of the day. There is no indication yet on the crossover for the Code Zero which was a significant factor the last time it was used on the AC72 in San Francisco.

While Emirates Team New Zealand may be back in the groove for their test and development program - which will come to a peak in early March for the start of the 36th Match, the Challengers do not have the same latitude. With their second-generation AC75's either in Auckland or en route, the clock is starting to run down at a concerning rate.

The first of the Challengers will begin packing up and heading home in just four months - at the end of January. Their development program will be interrupted by the Christmas Cup/America's Cup World Series in mid-December, and of course the Christmas and New Year shutdown in New Zealand.

Related Articles

K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup." Posted on 4 Jul
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
Switch One DesignZhik 2024 DecemberNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast