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America's Cup: Nathan Outteridge on driving the AC40

by Emirates Team NZ 11 Oct 2022 17:09 AEDT 12 October 2022
Nathan Outteridge and Ray Davies - America's Cup Joint Recon Emirates Team New Zealand AC40 Day 2 - September 21, 2022 © Adam Mustill / America's Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand's Nathan Outteridge takes you into the AC40 cockpit seat, and runs through the controls on the AC40 for the autopilot, controlling ride height, the mast rotation, mainsail trim and raising and lowering the foil arms. It is a very clever system - but very simple as well.

The first AC40 has been put through a rigorous but ultimately satisfactory commissioning process by Emirates Team New Zealand over the past few weeks since it’s maiden sail on the 21st of September.

It has the America’s Cup and wider sailing community tuned in and eager to understand its design and performance when considering its core purpose to provide the pathway into the America’s Cup for the next generation of Women and Youth sailors. It is these sailors who have no doubt been most intrigued as they can now begin to visualise themselves onboard racing the exciting new foiling monohulls.

But where do you start in learning how to sail such a cutting-edge and high-performance yacht?

A good place is this ‘How to sail the AC40’, video with Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Nathan Outteridge.

With the second AC40 already on its way to INEOS Britannia and the third only weeks away from heading out the door, the fleet is growing steadily.

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