| The latest sailing news from New Zealand and the world. |
17 May 2017 |
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  Sail-World NZ - May 16 -Aggro starts in Bermuda
 | | Emirates Team New Zealand - Practice Session 5, Day 1 - May 15, 2017, Great Sound Bermuda ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand e-magazine for May 16, 2017
Racing in the final long Practice Session ahead of the start of the 35th America's Cup Regatta is now underway in Bermuda.
In breaking news we are hearing that Emirates Team New Zealand have suffered damage, described as significant. We have the initial story in this edition and will add as more comes to hand.
The first day started in fresh winds and caused a few problems amongst the five teams that turned up to race.
Only four of them made the start line with Emirates Team New Zealand electing not to race after breaking one of their rudders before the start.
It has not been advised as to the cause of the failure. However, the team told Sail-World on Tuesday morning, that contrary to reports throughout the NZ daily media, Emirates Team New Zealand had not suffered a major setback and the shattered foil was an old heavy air one.
 | | Damage to Land Rover BAR after today's collision with Emirates Team NZ |
The team put the failure down to pushing too hard. However, a turtle strike cannot be ruled out.
If it was indeed a genuine structural failure, then there might be some deep thinking about how that foil compares with others they have in stock or awaiting delivery.
The session today was sailed in fresh winds - not the expected wind condition when the America's Cup Match gets underway in four weeks time.
New Zealand fans are waiting to see how Emirates Team New Zealand shapes up against the Defender and four other Challengers.
Whether this Practice Series 5 is going to be a useful form guide largely depends on the weather - both in this series and in the America's Cup Regatta itself, which gets under way in 10 days time.
The wind next month is expected to be lighter. However, most of the training and racing to date has been in fresh breezes.
 | | Softbank Team Japan trains a day out from Practice Session 5 - May 15, 2017 Matt Knighton/Softbank Team Japan © |
In those conditions, the boats appear to be a lot more even in performance.
iI the lighter conditions a few more factors come into play, one of which will be boat weight. Having a boat that is minimum weight (2332kg) means that she will foil sooner than one which at the top end of the weight range (2432kg). That variance is the equivalent of an extra crew member and a heavy grinder at that.
That is an extra 100kg the foils have to lift in marginal foiling conditions - and the boat which flies first has a huge advantage.
in the heavy air conditions which we are seeing now, that weight is arguably an advantage as the say 50kg in the windward hull actually increases righting moment and therefore boat speed.
Then there are the foils and the strategy the team has adopted. While these are a fascinating piece of technology, the science is generally lost on mere mortals.
 | | Oracle Team USA - 35th America's Cup Bermuda 2017 - Practice racing week ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
Suffice to say while these AC50's may be touted as a one-design, there is plenty for the designers to play with, and all teams seem to be intent on continuing to develop right through to the time for them to be excused from further competition.
That is why just ten days out from the start of the regatta all teams are having new gear delivered, and that situation will apply to major components probably even during the Qualifiers.
In the absence of race results, Emirates Team New Zealand would seem to have the advantage in light airs, while Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing would look to have an advantage in the breeze.
Overall across the wind range, Artemis Racing is clearly the boat to beat, with Emirates Team NZ being a dark horse.
By Friday we should have a more accurate impression.
For those thinking of heading to Bermuda, Gray Gibson from Mondo Travel assures us there is no plenty of good accommodation in Bermuda for the final weekend and Monday and Tuesday of the Match. It would also seem that prices are dropping and Gray was quoting a very reasonable $185/night for a room in a house in Bermuda about 4km from the team bases.
 | | Oracle Team USA - Practice Session 5, Day 1 - May 15, 2017, Great Sound Bermuda ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
Airfares are not too bad either - so if Emirates Team New Zealand performs to expectations, it may be worth popping over for a week.
The opening weekend of the Match is going to be a tight squeeze, with the first two days of racing followed by a Superyacht regatta until Wednesday, no racing on the Thursday and Friday, and then racing begins again on the Saturday - so there is plenty of time to get to Bermuda.
For those not going to Bermuda, we understand the arrangements are still fluid.
Sky TV is committed to carrying the broadcast starting most days at 5.00am. Whether that is with an international commentary or a local commentary from Peter Lester and Martin Tasker remains to be seen.
Sky Tv are selling a fan pass for $100/mth for those who do not have a Sky Sports subscription - meaning to see all the regatta you will probably need a two-month fan pass.
NewstalkZB/Radio Sport will be carrying a live commentary from Peter Montgomery - which is a very good option.
 | | Emirates Team New Zealand breaks a rudder in Practrice Session Emirates Team New Zealand |
Sail-World is heading for Bermuda on May 23 and will be on site for the first couple of days of the buildup and then start of the Qualification Series through to the end of the Match. I will be doing photography and reporting with an excellent vantage point from on the water. There are some limits on what can be produced - one of which is no video from the water.
I am expecting to have the first coverage on Sail-World.com about an hour after the finish of the final race and will keep going until the day is done - which is usually about 2.00am the following day local time.
Sail-World will be carrying plenty of unique content as well as the usual team reports and official coverage. So stay tuned and please pass the message onto other America's Cup fans of what we think will be great coverage.
Having covered the 2010 and 2013 America's Cups from the water, I confident of being able to do an even better job from Bermuda, than before.
 | | Pirelli has signed on with Emirates Team New Zealand Hamish Hooper/Emirates Team NZ |
Follow all the racing and developments in major and local events on www.sail-world.com by scrolling to the top of the site, select New Zealand, and get all the latest news and updates from the sailing world.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
sailworldnzl@gmail.com
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 | | Rolex Capri Sailing Week © Studio Borlenghi / Carlo Borlenghi / Gattini |
 | | Stephen Murray Jr.'s Volvo 70, Warrior takes the gun for the Antigua Bermuda Race © Tom Clarke |
 | | Epic helicopter footage of Dongfeng Race Team sailing between Glenan Island and Groix Island, South Brittany - Volvo Ocean Race © Benoit Stichelbaut / Dongfeng Race Team |
 | | Team Manager and Tactician Iain Percy wearing the latest sponsor Airgrip Artemis Racing Special Edition. Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing |
 | | - Oracle Team USA - Practice Session 5, Day 1 - May 15, 2017, Great Sound Bermuda Javier Salinas / Oracle Team USA |
 | | Oracle Team USA - 35th America's Cup Bermuda 2017 - Practice racing week ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
 | | Emirates Team New Zealand sailing in Practice Session 5, Day 1 - May 15, 2017, Great Sound Bermuda ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
 | | launch time - Practice Session 5, Day 1 - May 15, 2017, Great Sound Bermuda ACEA / Ricardo Pinto |
 | | Team ENGIE during the event in Riva - GC32 Riva Cup 2017 Jesus Renedo / GC32 Racing Tour |
 | | Zdenek Maryzko - IWT - Morocco Spot X 2017 © Si Crowther / IWT |
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