America's Cup: A solid week for the Kiwis
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 25 Oct 20:47 PDT
Emirates Team New Zealand - Day 29 - October 22, 2026 - Auckland, NZ © Sam Thom / America's Cup Recon
Emirates Team New Zealand started off an unusual but significant week - with a Saturday Session.
The short week ended on Thursday, with New Zealand set to enjoy a three-day holiday weekend from Saturday to next Monday. In between, they tested a new mainsail, hit a UFO, had some rare training stops to effect repairs, and enjoyed a variety of testing and race practice routines, using a settled seven strong sailing squad.
Summer seems to have arrived early in New Zealand, which with the switch to Daylight Saving Time means the Kiwis have had some time pressure removed, and can enjoy full training days - now with a variety of breeze from light airs, of around the minimum for racing in the AC75s, to the top end of 18-20kts. Air temperatures were down on Saturday, but warmed up for the Tuesday and Thursday.
The Saturday session appeared to have a racing edge to it, with the Recon team noting a variety of activities, starting with a physical measurement of rig setup with the AC75 alongside the dock. The session appears to have been a mix of speed runs and race practice. They seem to have settled on a seven person sailing squad, with four of those being in their first AC cycle with any team, and only two - Nathan Outteridge and Andy Maloney - being part of the winning crew in the 2024 America's Cup.
Recon Report - October 22, 2026 - Sailing Day 29 - Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
- AM: Sunny 10-15kts 180° (S) PM: Sunny. Wind: 12-18kts 180° (S)
- Sea State: Flat (AM & PM)
Sailing Stats:
- Dock Out: 1000hrs
- Stopped Sailing: 1536hrs
- Time sailed: 5.0hrs but with substantial stoppages
- Foiling time: Not reported
- Tacks: No data. Gybes: No data
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Seb Menzies (NZL)
- Starboard Helm: Nathan Outteridge (AUS/NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Iain Jensen (AUS)
- Starboard Trimmer: Andy Maloney (NZL)/Josh Armit (NZL)
- P5: Jo Aleh (NZL)
- P6: Josh Armit (NZL)
Recon Unit Report – October 22, 2026
Key Points:
- Multiple stoppages.
- Stopped to change mains
.
ETNZ rolled out at a slightly earlier 0840 Thursday morning to a building southerly. The crew consisted of Nathan Outteridge, Seb Menzies, Iain Jensen, Andy Malony, Josh Armit, Jo Aleh.
They towed out to Narrow Neck beach and were off the tow at 1020. The breeze was a steadily building 10-12 knot southerly. They hoisted their M2-1 and J2-1 and set off downwind at 1033, sailing onto the foil. Rather than their usual long sail downwind they instead chose to stay closer inshore. Doing multiple laps and manoeuvres off the North Shore beaches before stopping once again back at Narrow Neck beach at 1105 to switch to the J3-1.
At 1122 they started sailing and once again staying close to shore running through a similar session of short tacks and gybes. At 1153 they ended their session up near the beaches and this time changed both jib and main. This is the first time we’ve seen them change a main during a sailing day and was later explained during the interview as both good practice for practicing the logistics of changing on the water but also as a way of calibrating the new M2-1 main against the older M3. There seems to be an increased focus recently from ETNZ of calibration, through reaching speed runs and the dialing in of sails after changing before proceeding into the rest of their sessions.
At 1223 with their M3-0 and J3-1 now hoisted ETNZ was once again up and sailing in a now 10-14 knots. They sailed long legs downwind and upwind to dial in the settings before ending the session at 1249 in the now 14-16 knots. They then once again dropped their main, however this time it was to make repairs to an unknown component of the mainsail. The angle grinder was seen grinding away at some carbon and it was almost a full hour before they were up and sailing again.
It has been rare lately for ETNZ to spend so long with such stoppages, however a 1 hour turnaround is still an impressively short turnaround. At 1341 they were back up and sailing performing round ups and tearaways. At 1350 ETNZ appeared to hit a UFO and stopped once again to check the rudder and switch to the J5-0.
The breeze had built to a steady 14-17 knots and at 1404 they were back sailing doing runs on the J5 dialing in the boat. Ending the session at 1434 with several circles and a couple of speed runs. At 1450 they laid two buoys and did several rolling practice starts. The boat was noticeably aggressive and less stable than usual in these prestarts committing several splashdowns. ETNZ then proceeded to sail up the harbour for an end of day shakedown before ending their day off of North Head at 1536.
Overall, a standard amount of sailing hours despite the several long stoppages for repairs and sail changes.
Additional Images - October 22, 2026
Recon Report - October 20, 2026 - Sailing Day 28 - Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
- AM: Sunny 4-7kts 225° (SW) PM: Sunny. Wind: 8-12kts 225° (SW)
- Sea State: Flat (AM & PM)
Sailing Stats:
- Dock Out: 1015hrs
- Dock In: 1615hrs Stopped Sailing: 1539hrs
- Time sailed: 5.0hrs
- Foiling time: Not reported
- Tacks: No data. Gybes: No data
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Seb Menzies (NZL)
- Starboard Helm: Nathan Outteridge (AUS/NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Iain Jensen (AUS)
- Starboard Trimmer: Andy Maloney (NZL)/Josh Armit (NZL)
- P5: Jo Aleh (NZL)
- P6: Josh Armit (NZL)/Jake Pye (NZL)
Recon Report – 20th October 2026
Key Points:
- Bottom end of the M2-1.
- High volume of port entry starts.
ETNZ rolled out at 0912 Tuesday morning to a light SW. At 0945 they splashed down and did their usual routine of foils and system tests. The crew consisted of Nathan Outteridge, Seb Menzies, Iain Jensen, Andy Malone, Josh Armit, Jo Aleh.
The boat was off the tow at 1045 at Narrow Neck Beach. The breeze was a light 4-7 knots SW. The M2-1 and J2-1 was hoisted and in the very light breeze ETNZ sailed up onto the foil. In the past few blocks ETNZ has shown a strong preference for sailing onto the foils rather than towing up. Only rarely going straight to the tow.
They started sailing downwind, and then very shortly after, at 1128, they stopped to adjust the jib, the jib clew, and some technicians jumped on board to look at the mainsheet traveller. Whether a quick fix or just an adjustment, ETNZ was quickly on their way again 5min later and continued on a long sail downwind. Long boards with some testing of the extremes of the main traveller. There was a couple of touch and gos through manoeuvres especially in the tacks. Two speed runs to finish before ending the session at 1203.
At 1218 they started their next session, sailing upwind before making a long way downwind until they eventually ran out of breeze and fell off the foils at 1227. This felt like testing of the very bottom end of the range of the M2-1. As ETNZ quickly threw a line to Chase One and proceeded to tow directly back upwind until they were once again in the more steady 7-8 knot breeze further up the harbour. The session ended at 1244.
At 1259 the next session started and involved practice racing with Chase One. This seemed less formal than other days and consisted mostly of the occasional dip or cover tack by Chase One. The session ended at 1341.
The breeze came in to a slightly strong 10-12 knots and ETNZ switched to their J3-1. Some buoys were laid and a series of rolling prestarts were sailed. A quick break at 1458 before another session started at 1523, once again a series of rolling prestarts this time however with a strong focus on the port entry. The day ended at 1539, dropping sails for the long tow back to dock arriving at 1615.
Overall, a good day of sailing in the light SW with a strong focus on practice starts.
Recon Report - October 17, 2026 - Sailing Day 27 - Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
- AM: Sunny 10-14kts 180° (S) PM: Sunny. Wind: 8-16kts 180° (SW)
- Sea State: Flat (AM & PM)
Sailing Stats:
- Dock Out: 1000hrs
- Dock In: 1430hrs
- Session Time: 4hrs 30mins
- Foiling time: Not reported
- Tacks: No data. Gybes: No data
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Seb Menzies (NZL)
- Starboard Helm: Nathan Outteridge (AUS/NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Iain Jensen (AUS)
- Starboard Trimmer: Andy Maloney (NZL)/Josh Armit (NZL)/Jake Pye (NZL)
- P5: Jo Aleh (NZL)
- P6: Josh Armit (NZL)/Jake Pye (NZL)
Recon Report – 17th October 2026
Recon Report – 17th October 2026
Key Points:
- New Foil arm outline.
- Cold, flat offshore southerly.
ETNZ rolled out of the shed early Saturday morning at 0840hrs, to a rather cold, spring southerly. We noticed a new outline to the bottom of the starboard foil arm which Iain Jensen later described as ETNZ “trying some things”. They loaded on their new M2-1 main and a full range of jibs. After their launch ETNZ were seen measuring their rig and stay settings with a tape measure. The crew consisted of Nathan Outteridge, Seb Menzies, Iain Jensen, Andy Malone, Josh Armit, Jo Aleh and Jake Pye.
The boat left the dock at 1000 and was off the tow at 1016 at Cheltenham Beach. The breeze was a light 6-8 knots up under the headland but stronger 10-12knot southerly further out the harbour. The J3-1 was hoisted and at 1045 ETNZ were up and foiling down to Whangaparoa. A relatively standard session of testing, long boards followed by a higher volume of manoeuvres before ending at 1125.
The next session started at 1135 in a slightly lighter 8-10 knots and consisted of multiple practice races with Chase One. It is unclear if Chase One is being determined by a virtual AC75 or adjusting their speed and position on the fly to create dips, crosses and lee-bows. Having a real object to judge distance and speed against does seem to add real value to the training even just observing from the recon boat. The session ended at 1210.
At 1220 started an unusual session where ETNZ undertook close reaching flybys of Chase One. Our most likely explanation for this is high res photos of a particular part of the boat not captured by on board cameras or drone. This short session ended at 1240. There was then a large battery swap and marks were then laid. Jake Pye jumped on board into the VIP spot. From 1345 to 1355 ETNZ then did a series of rolling prestarts, alternating between port and starboard entry and boat or pin start. A good level of aggression was seen from ETNZ throwing the AC75 around in these practice starts.
The final session started at 1355 and consisted of a blast around the harbour by ETNZ. Up to North Head and down to Browns Island before heading back up and doing circles around the inner harbour. The breeze was steadily building and a much stronger 14-18 knots up off of North Head. The day ended at 1430. Dropping sails at North Head for the tow back.
Overall, a good, cold spring day of testing and practice racing for ETNZ.
Additional Images - October 17, 2026