KIWI DATA GRINDING
As observers and interested spectators, we’ve been lucky enough to be back-seat passengers on the roller-coaster ride of the Emirates Team New Zealand learning curve throughout the commissioning of the AC40. But now that it’s an LEQ12, (we think), the grind of straight-line data collection and mode discovery becomes the dominant part of the long training sessions and today was just one of those days out on a beautiful early summer Auckland Harbour. Yes, there were 28 tacks and 19 gybes (note – ETNZ have done way more manoeuvres than any other team to date) but there was also an awful lot of straight-lining perhaps at the behest of the design office who really want to gather as much data as possible about how these boats can be tweaked for speed.
The recon unit reported that the team: “looked to be enjoying the bear aways” – but that was most likely as a welcome respite from the monotony of straight-line info gathering. The settled test team of Pete Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Andy Maloney and Blair Tuke were once again in situ in the pods and it’s abundantly clear from watching the video just how dialled in they are to the performance of the boat with lightning-fast communication between the quad producing aggressive sheeting of the mainsheet traveller through the puffs and lulls. It’s addictive to watch and in sheer sailing terms, the Kiwis look from a distance to be the most accomplished to date of all the syndicates sailing.'
Stealing a march through hard work and grind is something of the Kiwi way and who better to interview, to get an insight into this winning psyche, than Tony Rae – one of the original Black Magic team from 1995. Picking through the bones of his interview, you can clearly get the gist of the approach that ETNZ deploys: “As you do the time on the water, everything just gets smoother, gets better, you refine different areas…every time we do something we’re always looking for how we can do it more efficiently. You can never say, ‘this is how we did it, this is how we’ve always done it’ as there will always be a better way. The team’s great because everyone is open minded about looking how we do something better whether that’s how we sail the boat, systems on the boat, how we set the sails…everything is about how we make it smoother.”
The grind continues for the Kiwis and with summer just around the corner – today was a pure-on glamour day out in Auckland Harbour. The team can expect ever longer days and more time-on-the-water - the ultimate elixir and key to every America’s Cup campaign as they build into Barcelona 2024. (Magnus Wheatley)
On-Water Recon Unit Notes: Good session on the harbour between A buoy and Akarana yacht club. Boat looked fast but twitchy. some very slick manoeuvres but also one or two duds. More straight lining than manoeuvres. I think they were trying to learn the Modes. some low and slow down wind and some high and slow up wind. The team looked to be enjoying the bear aways. Sails looked good across the range, no leach flutter observed. Very flat. Mast looked to be at the max rake setting. Mainsail: some foot flapping noticed on take-off, stopped when up to speed.
Dock-Out: 10.30am Dock-In: 1.45pm
Sails:
M1 (OD): 4 hours
J2 (OD): 1.5 hours
J3 (OD): 2.5 hours
Take off: 15 knots at 80 degrees TWA
Wind AM: 6-16 knots (19-22 degrees, 15% cloud cover)
Wind PM: 12-16 knots (23 degrees, 20% cloud cover)
Helms: Nathan Outteridge, Pete Burling
Crews: Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke