Cup Spy: A Day in the life of the AC37 Joint Recon unit

Emirates Team New Zealand and their Recon Boat return after a session in threatening weather on the Hauraki Gulf © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Sadly, for Cup fans the AC37 Joint Recon Unit shut down, on June 22 - as ordained in the Cup rules, two months before the start of the first event in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup - and just when it was getting interesting.

We are all very thankful and grateful for the part this team has played in giving us a look at the Cup team activities, and an insight which we have never been seen before. It's a lot of hard work, in some pretty rotten weather, trying to keep up with an AC75 or 40fter in an under-powered RIB.

Here's a look at the recon crews at work, and some explanation about the restrictions under which they were allowed access.