Emirates Team New Zealand LEQ12 Day 34 Summary

Emirates Team New Zealand may well be back to a one-boat programme for now but on a big breeze day in Auckland, the last of their sailing block, the Defenders of the America’s Cup showed real class and commitment as they pushed the new starboard foil to its very limit. Pete Burling and Nathan Outteridge were at their very best, sailing with astonishing accuracy in a shifting breeze whilst Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney were on another level with sail trim and Flight Control. Speaking afterwards, Blair Tuke, Emirates Team New Zealand’s Flight Controller gave a good summary of the day saying: “Quite a windy day here…when we got out it was only about 15 knots but pretty quickly the cell came through so we ended up on the front side of it running down past Maraetai and sort of the far end of Waiheke and then when we saw we had a runway back, we went back upwind when it got pretty windy over 25 knots there for a little bit but yeah we had a few more objectives to tick off on the foil but…just the one boat today so it brings to a close our block now and yeah so it's been good really, really, good learnings.” 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