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24 Jun 2017 |
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  Sail-World NZ - June 23 - The Battle of Bermuda recommences
 | | New Zealand fans at the Royal Dockyard, Bermuda - June 23, 2017 America's Cup - Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand e-magazine for June 23, 2017
After a five day gap, the 35th Match for the America's Cup is set to begin on Bermuda's Great Sound tomorrow.
In Bermuda, it has been an eerie wait.
At the conclusion of the first two day's racing, Oracle Team USA's Jimmy Spithill came into the media conference and freely conceded that Emirates Team New Zealand had a faster boat.
The in true Spithill style he launched into a speech outlining how the Defender was going to go right through every aspect of their campaign. The old 'Leave No Stone Unturned' theme - which always sounds good, but the reality is even with five days available there is a limited amount that can be done to a wingsailed catamaran in terms of installing new gear and testing it.
The reality is that changes will be limited to a changed configuration for lighter wind sailing, and a look at the way the team handles the AC50 in tacks, gybes and general sailing.
Another reality of this America's Cup in Bermuda is that those teams who have spent two years ensconced on the mid-Atlantic archipelago have been treated to mostly medium to fresh winds - particularly since the AC50's were launched in February.
 | | Relaxed scene as Oracle Team USA pulls into their dock after a final training session - America's Cup 2017, June 23, 2017 - Great Sound Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
In fact, the first raceable light air came on the final day of the Challenger Final when Emirates Team New Zealand put away Artemis Racing by a margin of 56 seconds.
The New Zealand team then beat the Defender with similar ease when the Match itself began.
For sure the Kiwis made it hard for themselves with a couple of unforced errors but leading around every mark in four races and not losing a start is a record of domination.
The common analysis is that the New Zealanders are a couple of knots faster than the US team. In addition, the Kiwis sail higher to windward and deeper downwind - which in wingsailed foiling catamarans is a potent advantage.
The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is more of the same - with light winds expected - Saturday may even be too light for racing.
If we get on the familiar path of racing being extended due to wind issues, then Oracle Team USA should at least be able to close the gap on Emirates Team New Zealand.
 | | Emirates Team New Zealand boat-wash - June 23, 2017 America's Cup - Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
In winds above 12 kts, the Defender does get into their comfort zone - and winds of up to 15kts or more predicted for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Emirates Team New Zealand would obviously be keen to take on the US team in these conditions to avoid the hashtag of being lightwindwonders.
For sure it would be an intriguing contest, but quite whether the Kiwi fans are up for an intriguing yacht race is another matter entirely.
Emirates Team New Zealand have spent the past five days polishing a high-class act.
The inside word from Oracle Team USA is that they concede they have a performance gap to close, and can't do that in the time available.
 | | NZL Sailing Team foils through the fleet - Red Bull Youth America's Cup part of the 35th America's Cup - Bermuda June 21, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
While the teams talk about there being a lot of speed on the table, Emirates Team NZ skipper told Sail-World, probably off the record, when their AC50 was launched in February 2017 that at that stage the AC50 was about 2/10 on the development scale, and by the time of the America's Cup they would only be halfway towards realising the potential of the foiling catamarans.
That estimate now seems about right judging by the talk from all the teams - who still claim they are on a very steep near vertical learning curve.
The issue for Oracle Team USA is that probably most of the gains can be made from a different foil design and strategy - and there aren't the eight weeks available to build new daggerboards, let alone design and properly test the concept. Another six months would be most useful. But the America's Cup is a time management exercise, and time has run out
 | | O'pen BIC freestylists entertain the AC Grand Stands - America's Cup Endeavour O'pen Nevin Sayre |
Oracle Team USA is also behind the Kiwis on hydraulic power and how it can be deployed. Jimmy Spithill puts a brave face on OTUSA's 'hybrid' system - with tactician Tom Slingsby having a set of pedals behind his skipper to provide downwind 'oil'.
At the end of the Qualifiers, exiting Jimmy Spithill was dispensing the coaching advice to second-placed Emirates Team New Zealand recommending they take a leaf out of Oracle Team USA's book and appoint a tactician - as he had in Olympic Gold Medalist Tom Slingsby. The Kiwis stuck with using Blair Tuke in the role of being responsible for daggerboard trim - and one of the points of interest will be whether OTUSA has changed the crew roles in their boat. One suspects that will be most unlikely.
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup suffered from a lack of wind. On the final day the New Zealand crew performed outstandingly winning all three races by big margins, as the breeze just clicked over the foiling threshold. Well, foiling conditions for the Kiwis, displacement sailing for the rest of the fleet.
On the final day the NZL Sailing Team gave the other teams a sailing lesson. Unfortunately the first day of the Finals was not so kind on the New Zealanders and they dropped down the leaderboard, with the AC45's being very sticky in the lighter conditions.
 | | The home fans - 35th America's Cup - Bermuda, May 24, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
Winning this event in 2013 and finishing second in 2017 is a good result for New Zealand sailing. The fact that America's Cup skipper Peter Burling is only a year outside the age limit for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, underlines how much the main event has changed down a generation.
At this stage of the 35th America's Cup Regatta, it has been an excellent series. The on the water organisation has been superb, with course changes and race management happening quickly.
 | | 35th America's Cup - the next Bob Marley, America's Cup Village - May 24, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
The wind system of which we were so critical in San Francisco has been changed to a system which is fast and fair - and with minimal time wasted when the wind drops below the prescribed 6kts.
The entertainment in the America's Cup Village has been well received by the spectators - there is plenty of volume to the chagrin of those trying to work in the media centre. But step outside that environment the crowd is happy and enjoying themselves, and a lot of the talent is just outstanding. It was amusing to get a media release setting out in great detail the entertainment that was going to be on, and by the way, you could catch a couple of races in the America's Cup Match beforehand.
The America's Cup Village is jumping. There are big crowds coming into the venue and heading home on the ferries everyone is on a high and look like they have had a great day at the America's Cup.
 | | Hobie Wave - America's Cup Regatta Race Week 2017, June 23, 2017 - Great Sound Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
The sailing program has been varied with an eclectic mix of sailing events from junior sailing through to J-Class and Superyachts. Despite what has been reported there have been a large number of superyachts (over 70 registered) at the Regatta, and they form an impressive backdrop for the racing, and again in the evening when they are moored in the Sound or Hamilton, or the Royal Dockyard.
The sight of seven J-Class racing together as a fleet was unforgettable and will be one of the great memories of this regatta. Shamrock V was a Challenger in the 1930 America's Cup, and to see her sailing was a poignant experience.
Regardless of who wins the 35th Match, Bermuda has certainly set a high bar for future events and sailing generally. The Village is an amazing venue the likes of which has not been seen in my experience at the last three America's Cups (and the two Auckland events) or Olympic Regattas. While ACEA has copped it on a few fronts in the lead-up to the 35th America's Cup, the venue concept and organisation is exceptional, and the sailing world can learn a lot from the Bermuda experience.
This regatta is so good that it is hard to believe it is real.
 | | It's hot work being an Emirates Team New Zealand supporter - flopping into a big puddle left by the rain -Challenger Final, Day 3 - 35th America's Cup - Day 16 - Bermuda June 12, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
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Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
sailworldnzl@gmail.com
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 | | J- Class Regatta - 35th America's Cup - Bermuda June 19, 2017 Richard Gladwell |
 | | Shemara, constructed in 1929 and recently restored on a calm day at the start of the Semi-Finals - 35th America's Cup - Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
 | | America's Cup J-Class Regatta 2017 ©J-Class | Studio Borlenghi |
 | | The Maltese Falcon - J-Class and Superyacht Regatta Bermuda Ingrid Abery |
 | | The ultimate swimming platform - at the start of the Semi-Finals - 35th America's Cup - Bermuda Richard Gladwell |
 | | Red Bull Youth America's Cup © BMW | Studio Borlenghi |
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