Emirates Team New Zealand LEQ12 Day 11 Summary

They’re the gold standard, the Blue Riband, the benchmark by which everyone else measures themselves against, so when Emirates Team New Zealand capsize an AC40 in LEQ12 mode, the analysis and the spotlight is intense. In truth, what we saw today was what can happen even in fairly benign conditions when trim goes out of kilter and the team are caught at the crucial moment by a gust. A bear-away just as the breeze filtered in at 14 knots and in the blink of an eye, the ETNZ LEQ12 was into a dramatic nosedive and corkscrew just off the Royal Akarana Yacht Club with the rudder elevator out of the water in echoes of their previous capsize that caused extensive bow damage before Christmas 2022. This time however, with the bow beefed up, there were no catastrophic results, just red faces, but down the mine and over on its side the LEQ12 went, offering a soaking to the leeward port pod crew as the boat corkscrewed round and elicited more than likely a groan of concern from the boss, Grant Dalton, watching on in the chase boat. Blair Tuke was one of those in the wet leeward pods and summed it up saying: “The wind was sort of going anywhere between 6 and maybe 14 knots…and just hit us just as we were bearing away, and we didn’t quite adjust on the controls but yeah it reminds you that the boat’s pretty hard to sail but nice to get back up and carry on sailing after that and get a couple more laps in.” 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