Emirates Team New Zealand AC40-3 Day 6 Summary

Emirates Team New Zealand are busy packing up the AC75 before loading it on a ship and heading up to Barcelona but in a mammoth team effort, still found time to launch the team’s AC40 is strict one-design mode for young Leo Takahashi to get vital time behind the wheel alongside Josh Junior who is very much leading the Youth & Women’s America’s Cup development programme. It was a big day on the water with 14 knots initially before dropping to a more manageable 12 knots but still plenty to challenge the sailors over a two-hour session. The Kiwis brought out a new mainsail addition with a very useful window being inserted on both of the skins which will be vital when the two-boat testing that is scheduled for later this week takes place. Josh Junior came to the interview post sailing full of enthusiasm for the AC40 and revealed just how hard the team were pushing the auto-pilot limits and engaging the anti-rudder stall. Some dramatic pre-start moves were shown with the helms scalloping the AC40 and really throwing it around in the 2-minute sequences. Great interview with one of the top foiling sailors in the world today. 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