SailGP testing starts in Auckland in a fresh swirling 20-30kts breeze and flat water
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 13 Jan 12:09 AEDT
Northstar (CAN) - Giles Scott - Systems testing - Auckland SailGP - January 13, 2024 © Bob Martin/SailGP
In splendid foiling conditions the four F50s had their work cut out on the trip down the Waitemata Harbour in flat water peppered by swirling gusts and shifts emanating from the high-rise office buildings, which had a grandstand view of the action, likely causing the GDP of the central city to plummet.
There were no reports of traffic stoppages on the Auckland Harbour Bridge - which affords magnificent views of the course off Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Wynyard Point.
There were several purposes to the day - first to give the crews some time to adjust to the new T-Foils which will be used for the first time in Auckland, and to allow for some testing of ship to shore systems for the live TV broadcast.
Sailing off the PJ Montgomery home grandstand at the southern end of Takapuna Beach, the action was exciting but with no major disasters in the time of our viewing from further along the cliff edge.
Fresh SW conditions are expected to last until Wednesday, Thursday is light, with a fresh easterly cracking in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which will offer thrilling racing in flat water, without the wind impediments of the Auckland cityscape.
SailGP is located on Wynyard Point with a large grandstand on the end of the point and the team bases being located around in the area constructed for the 2021 America's Cup , with the F50s being craned into the Jellicoe basin.