Emirates Team New Zealand AC40-3 Day 4 Summary

Just when we thought we were about to see the America’s Cup burst into two-boat testing life, alas it was a tease from Emirates Team New Zealand who launched AC40-3, the one-design version, and the LEQ12 adjacent to each other but only the AC40 ventured out on a blustery Auckland summer day. Apparently according to the recon team onsite it was to check that the two boats could “talk to each other” – but quite what they were saying is anyone’s guess? world will be sitting up at numbers like that. Leonard ‘Leo’ Takahashi, a superstar match-racer and a name that the America’s Cup world will be hearing an awful lot more of in the coming years, gave a terrific interview afterwards saying: “We had 44-45 knots when we were reaching downwind but with everything else going, it was hard to tell… Section 41. Reconnaissance a) As a campaign cost reduction measure, COR/D has mutually agreed to cooperatively implement a centralised reconnaissance programme for all teams for the reconnaissance of all Competitors’ AC75 Yachts, AC40 Yachts and LEQ12 yachts including both on-land and on-water imagery (the “Joint Recon Programme”). b) Each team is assigned a two-person Recon Unit to follow their every on-water move, but it's not that simple. The cameras are supplied and identical for all Recon Units. Drones are not allowed, and they can't get that close, plus following a boat and keeping a camera steady at 45 knots isn't that easy to begin with. c) A three minute interview follows each on water day, and teams must answer the Recon Unit's questions while trying not to give too much away. It's a raw, unedited view of the never before seen behind-the-scenes development of a team and their boat to win the oldest trophy in international sports. #AC37Recon #AmericasCup #Barcelona2024