Emirates Team New Zealand LEQ12 Day 18 Summary

The defence of the America’s Cup is very much on with Emirates Team New Zealand taking to the crystal summer waters of the Hauraki Gulf today to line up the One-Design AC40 against its snarling sister, the LEQ12 in full teenage development mode. Curly Salthouse, the legendary Kiwi head of on-water operations who is now in his tenth America’s Cup campaign summed up the short afternoon session accurately saying: “We waited for the breeze, sort of a typical sea-breeze day here in Auckland…and left the dock about 2.30pm something like that, unfortunately on one of the boats we've made a little change to the sail configuration, and we’ve done some damage to some battening, something that we couldn't really replace and keep going on the water. So, one boat’s back in early and we’ll lift that out and fix it for tomorrow, that's not a big job, but it's just something we’re trying…and it wasn’t up to the task, we’ll rectify that and go again.” 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