Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Cup Spy: Tuke gives AC40 the thumbs up - Day 4

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 28 Sep 2022 01:34 PDT 22 September 2022
Testing in the car ferry wake - America's Cup Recon Emirates Team New Zealand - AC40 - Day 4 - September 28, 2022 © Adam Mustill/America's Cup

Fresh off the plane from the Sail GP regatta in Cadiz, Spain, Emirates Team New Zealand's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke put the AC40 through its paces on the Inner Hauraki Gulf today in a fresh seabreeze.

"It was pretty epic. We had the benefit of the commissioning the other guys [Nathan Outteridge, Ray Davies, Sam Meech and Ray Davies] did last week."

"We just got back this morning. It was an awesome day. We had a NE [seabreeze] 15-18kts," Blair Tuke explained.

The crew pulled off tacks and gybes counted in the teens with only one wet tack. "It's pretty easy in the maneuvers," Tuke commented.

"We were pushing it in fast mode today rather than at a higher angle. We were sailing at about roughly 30 knots, with a sailing angle of about 45 degrees Apparent [Apparent Wind Angle].

Part of the test routine for today was refining the flight control autopilot software which is controlling, the ride height with the crew setting basic adjustment parameters. Today's testing involved seeing how the autopilot reacted to trim the AC40 in waves, including hitting a boat wake and discovering if the AC40 would "stuff-in" or in other words, do a spectacular nosedive at high speed.

"We're still working on autopilot, so we tried finding a few more ways to test it. We tucked in behind a few more waves, but it didn't do anything [stuff in], so we went around to Shark Alley, and the waves there lined up for us, which was intentional."

"Then we found the car ferry wake. We literally lined up right on the ferry wake to see how long we would last."

"It was a good testing session."

"We learned a lot today and tested the refinements from the previous days."

"What's impressed me is the work that has gone on, and it's an awesome package. It will be great for the Youth and Women crews in their America's Cup Regattas."

"It will also be a good platform for the teams to do their testing as well," the double America's Cup champion added.

The team is expected to keep testing the AC40 in its one design mode - which will be used for the Youth and Womens America's Cups, as well as being sailed by the America's Cup team in preliminary regattas, the first of which is expected to take place in October 2023 in Sardinia.

At some stage, in the coming weeks, the AC40 is expected to be turned into a LEQ12 (taken out of the AC40 one design class configuration), and with different wing foils tested, along with sails and maybe rigs. The British team have already announced they will be launching an LEQ 12 (a boat between 6-12 metres long) that is purely a test platform and not capable of being configured to comply with the AC40 one design class rule.

Related Articles

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
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
Switch One DesignBarton Marine Pipe GlandsNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast