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21 Apr 2017 |
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  Sail-World NZ - April 20 - Team NZ latest...Opti and Starling Nats
 | | - Manly 16ft Skiff Club annual Crew Swap Day - April 2017 Michael Chittenden © |
Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand e-magazine for April 20, 2017
With Emirates Team New Zealand's AC50 now in Bermuda and being re-assembled, it is time to take a breath from what has been a hectic couple of months, both in Auckland and Bermuda.
The third major Practice Session has concluded in Bermuda.
This was conducted almost entirely if winds of around 16-25kts - starting to get close to the top end of the range for the AC50's.
The obvious take out from the series is the 9-0 score for Artemis Racing, taking four races off the Defender Oracle Team USA.
However, the Swedish team did win their two races against the Defender in the previous Practice Session - and have taken six wins on the trot from the Defender.
By any measure that is a significant result.
 | | Sean Herbert crosses the finish line to win the final race and win the 2017 Starling National Championship - Final Day - Wakatere Boating Club. April 18, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
For sure Oracle Team USA may not have had their best daggerboards fitted, and Artemis Racing could be a step ahead of the rest in that regard.
Commenting after the finish of the second Practice Session, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill said: 'The fact is, I think everyone only has one set of foils at this point, so in lighter winds everyone was compromised somewhat.'
Given the complexity and options afforded by the daggerboard rules, coupled with the fact that most if not all teams have suffered unexpected breakage, it is not really certain that apples are being compared with apples.
In other words, Artemis Racing might be the only team of the five with daggerboards optimised for the strong breezes.
It's a guessing game at this stage.
There may be some better answers in the next session which gets underway on April 24, local time - or Anzac Day in New Zealand. That is a five-day session - and may be the first opportunity for Emirates Team New Zealand to line-up with come of the other Challengers at least.
Given Oracle Team USA's current position there would seem to be little point in lining up against the Defender.
Emirates Team New Zealand has always been critical of the Challengers sailing against the Defender, and it would be hypocritical if the Kiwis were to change their stance.
 | | Emirates Team New Zealand AC50 on the Waitemata in 20-25kt winds. March 16, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
Equally, there is little point in the New Zealanders lining up against Softbank Team Japan. The Japanese are seen as a sub-set of the Defender's campaign and would be too useful a benchmark. Although as Oracle Team USA CEO Russell Coutts noted after the Third Practice Session 'Soft Bank Team Japan needs to address their reliability issues...'
So maybe expect a limited showing by Emirates Team New Zealand.
The reality lies in skipper Glenn Ashby's comment in a story in this edition on their isolated training in Auckland and what will happen when the Kiwis check in with reality in Bermuda: 'We are either going to come in, in good shape or having plenty on.'
Expect Team New Zealand to continue playing their own game.
While there will be plenty, who expect them to show their hand, forgetting that part of the Team Zealand tradition has been to largely train alone.
 | | Emirates Team NZ in San Francisco - the cavitation "sound barrier" for the AC72's is the same as for the AC50 - around 50kt of boat speed. Richard Gladwell |
In 2013 they turned up in San Francisco having only had a very limited work up against Luna Rossa, who while the second best challenger were slow and were not consistent. In previous Challenges, their way has usually been to train in the Hauraki Gulf, in a patch of water that resembles the Match venue and work away during the New Zealand summer.
From what we have seen on the video from Bermuda, and what we have been able to see with our own eyes on the Waitemata, Emirates Team New Zealand looks to be as sharp as Artemis Racing and may be sharper.
The test will be if the Kiwis can get around the course in Bermuda without a slowing splash-down. They would put them well ahead of the others, and in the video analysis, splash-downs were what cost valuable metres. To some extent, splash-downs are a measure of several factors - and are easily visible on video.
The other issue from the Practice Sessions is that Oracle Team USA may well rue their decision to race against the Challengers.
 | | Les Voiles de St. Barth Christophe Jouany / Les Voiles de St. Barth |
While giving them some target practice, it does also mean that their results will be compared with the Challengers - and commented on.
It is a lose-lose for the Defenders. If they give the Challengers a resounding hiding, then Oracle Team USA are criticised for getting their measure in a way that is against the traditions of the Cup.
Lose in the way they have against Artemis Racing, and they get a hammering for being off the pace.
Of course, Oracle Team USA are used to the comeback, but this Practice Session stuff is different. It will be interesting in the next session if they can step up in their handling, speed and results.
 | | Top five placegetters - 2017 Toyota Optimist Nationals, Napier Napier Sailing Club |
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Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
sailworldnzl@gmail.com
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 | | Armin Strom Sailing Team on a charge in Riva del Garda last year – GC32 Racing Tour © Loris von Siebenthal /www.lorisvonsiebenthal.com |
 | | Phil McNeil - Starling National Championships - Final Day - Wakatere Boating Club. April 18, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
 | | Sean Herbert chases Jack Lee-Rush at Mark 2 - Starling National Championship - Wakatere BC, April 18, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
 | | First signs the Kiwis are in residence in Bermuda - Emirates Team NZ Base Bermuda, April 18, 2017 Hamish Hooper/Emirates Team NZ |
 | | Les Voiles de St. Barth Christophe Jouany / Les Voiles de St. Barth |
 | | Oracle Team USA's AC72 catamaran to anchor America's Cup exhibition Oracle Team USA media |
 | | - Manly 16ft Skiff Club annual Crew Swap Day - April 2017 Michael Chittenden © |
 | | 3 - What is broad spectrum sunscreen Richard Gladwell |
 | | Digby Taylor at the helm of NZI Enterprise in the 1984/85 Whitbread Round the World Race. |
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