Kiwis up close on Sunday sail reveal innovative mainsheet system

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Cup Spy April 14: Kiwis up shut on Sunday sail reveal revolutionary mainsheet system

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 14 Apr 08:06 PDT
15 April 2024

Emirates Crew New Zealand- AC75 – Day 2 – April 14, 2024 – Auckland © Sam Thom/America’s Cup

Emirates Crew New Zealand sailed a 3 hour plus session at present, Sunday, placing in a stable session after their launch and check sail final Friday.

It was the primary likelihood to see the America’s Cup Defender crusing in good mild, and get a detailed up of the brand new mainsheet and traveller system.

The three hour session was performed in recent offshore winds and flat water crusing on Course E, or the “Again Paddock” off Jap Seaside.

It was simply the second day of crusing, with 16 tacks gybes carried out – all with out landing. The pictures and movies on this report give a significantly better view of the as but unnamed AC75s hull form – notably on the after finish of the hull.

One in every of New Zealand’s prime sportsman, Hamish Bond was in one of many cyclor seats for at present’s session the place 5 cyclors had been listed for the 4 slots. Bond has gained three Olympic Gold medals and eight world titles in Rowing, and a Commonwealth Bronze medals in biking. All informed there the place 5 Olympic medalists on board at present – overlaying Crusing Rowing and Biking.

We noticed extra of the structure of the Kiwi AC75 at present. The cyclors work within the two aft pit positions, with the 2 crusing crew ahead.

As we speak, probably the most notable characteristic of the brand new AC75, was the brand new mainsail sheeting system, with the traveller contained in an open trench operating the width of the cockpit. The clew of the principle is now pulled flat to the deck, tidying up exiting airflows and is a really neat answer.

The AC37 Joint Recon workforce reported they had been hitting 38kts upwind to tempo the AC75 – that is near the upwind speeds achieved by the boats within the final Cup of 38-40kts.

Emirates Crew New Zealand sailed with legacy wing foils at present, and design chief Dan Bernasconi mentioned within the dockside interview after the session that they’d be used all through this quick New Zealand crusing block, to provide the designers extra time. New wingfoils will likely be fitted and examined after the Kiwis arrive in Barcelona.

AC37 Joint Recon Crew Report:

Emirates Crew New Zealand – AC75 – Boat 3 – Day 2 – April 14, 2024 – Auckland

Day 2 for Emirates Crew New Zealand’s new, but to be formally named, AC75 “Boat 3” on the Hauraki Gulf began with some rain showers.

The workforce rolled the boat out of the shed at 9:30hrs to begin the setup and prepare for the boat’s first full crusing day on the schedule. Recon (AC37 Joint Recon workforce) noticed some small hydraulic management points being addressed across the base of the mast each within the cradle and on the dock.

After a small delay on the dock, the workforce departed simply earlier than 12:00pm heading in the direction of the again paddock to search out some clear area on a busy Sunday.

Coming off the tow east of Browns Island, the workforce began preparing for a predominant hoist. Recon noticed among the shore workforce working in the identical space across the mast as they’d been doing on the dock, probably having ongoing points on this space. Simply because the mains began to get the heads plugged in, this course of was halted, and Chase 2 was seen heading again to base.

Recon later discovered that one of many parts for the principle management system had been left on the base. After about 40 minutes, the M2 Mains and the J4 Jib had been hoisted, and the workforce began about quarter-hour after this.

Beginning out on starboard tack, the workforce acquired the boat up and flying with good management. Crusing upwind, Recon was having to match speeds of round 38 knots to maintain up. The workforce may be seen flying the boat very low to the water. Staying on starboard, the workforce accomplished Boat 3’s first bear away, which wasn’t as clean as beforehand witnessed maneuvers.

Crusing now downwind, the workforce began maneuvering via gybes, displaying good management, and programs gave the impression to be working as they need to.

Rounding up as they began to expire of water, the boat got here to a cease, and Chase 1 got here alongside. Recon noticed that the J4 was being dropped and that some changes had been being made. The workforce acquired again into crusing and proceeded to sail upwind, tacking again in the direction of the mainland, then operating again in the direction of the islands and rounding up once more down close to the Passage Rock channel. Coming to a cease once more, they referred to as for a grinder change.

After roughly a 20-minute break, the workforce accomplished the change and began crusing upwind once more, tacking their manner again in the direction of Browns Island. They sailed for one more 20 minutes, then got here to a cease and began the pack-up process at roughly 3:00 p.m.

Recon had an interview with Daniel Bernasconi, CTO for ETNZ, to speak about Boat 3 and the design challenges.

[AC37 Joint Recon team: Sam Thom and Andrew Burgess]

Crew: Crusing: Peter Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke. Cyclors: Hamish Bond, Louis Sinclair, Marius Van Der Pol, Simon Van Veltooven, Cam Webster