America’s Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand began its two-boat testing programme on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour last Thursday (2 February) in ideal 12-15 knots northeasterly winds.
It was the first opportunity the team has had to sail in the past week in the wake of the unprecedented weather event in the city over the Auckland Anniversary weekend.
Onboard the AC40’s for the three-and-a-half-hour session was the now familiar crew of Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge helming with Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney trimming on AC40.1.
Liv MacKay swapped port-side driving duties with Leonard Takahashi while Josh Junior was on the starboard helm on the second AC40 with Sam Meech and Marcus Hansen in the trimming seats.
The benefits of the two boats squaring off were quick to appear for coach Ray Davies: “The boats were engaging so well from the outset and as a result you could definitely see some instant gains in communication between the guys and girls onboard, obviously keeping check on the other boat’s performance and moves which is really important as far as match racing goes.”
Thursday’s session, which included a number of match race scenarios and line-ups, created an instant increase in intensity for the on-water programme for not only the sailors but the entire on-water operations, the team says.
In campaigns long past, the sight of two boats testing was a common occurrence, especially in the days of the IACC class used between 1992-2007. But not since 2012 has Emirates Team New Zealand had two boats together when a couple of SL33s were used to verify the significance of foiling versus non-foiling in the America’s Cup.
