Cup Spy: Emirates Team New Zealand starts two-boat training
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 2 Feb 2023 08:36 AEDT
2 February 2023
Emirates Team NZ's two AC40's cross tacks outside the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - February 2, 2023 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com / nz
Emirates Team New Zealand started their two-boat training/testing program this morning on the Hauraki Gulf.
The two boats left separately, in the mid-morning from the team base on Wynyard Point, and sailed down the harbour several minutes apart.
Off Browns Island, at the western end of Course E from the 2021 America's Cup, both boats paused, with the lead boat having some adjustments made, while the second boat stopped briefly before turning and heading for Course E, also known as the Back Paddock.
It is not know what configuration the two boats are in. Under the rules which govern the 37th America's Cup, ETNZ's second AC-40, known in-house as AC40-3 or "Forty Three", can only be sailed as an AC40 in One Design mode. The first AC-40-1 ("Forty One") can sail as either an AC40-One Design like AC40-3, or as a test platform known as a LEQ12.
The move is significant in the 2024 America's Cup, in that Emirates Team New Zealand are the first team to sail two AC-40's, or indeed any AC-40's.
This is the first time that any America's Cup team has been able to two-boat test since the 2007 America's Cup, or for the last four America's Cup cycles. Emirates Team NZ flirted with a pair of SL33's in 2011 to test foiling practicality ahead of the 2013 America's Cup.
However today's effort wound back the clock to the 1992-2007 era of the America's Cup, where teams would typically build two full size (80ft) Int America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts for long hours of two-boat testing of sails, rigs, and moding the two boats. Prior to that era teams would acquire old 12 Metres, or build paired boats to again put in long hours of tedious two-boat testing, pepped up with some match racing practice.
The British team have received their AC-40, and Alinghi Red Bull Racing received their first AC40 earlier this week.
Teams receive their AC40's in order of entry, with each team having two building slots. A team may switch a slot with another team. It is understood that the Kiwis and Brits swapped a building slot. Alinghi Red Bull Racing are getting two AC40's, it is not known whether they have taken building slots 5 and 6, or have swapped one slot with another team.