Emirates Team New Zealand Te Rehutai Day 10 Summary

A feint northerly airflow hung over Auckland on Thursday as Emirates Team New Zealand called for an afternoon session of light airs training in Te Rehutai, the defender’s America’s Cup winning boat from 2021 now heavily modified. Ray Davies and Pete Burling very much took the lead in the crew briefing session, running through the key goals for the session that saw the team concentrating on flight modes and cant to keep the power on and the foils flowing in conditions that they could well face in Barcelona in October 2024. The value of these light airs sessions is not to be underestimated and the team’s first attempt at flight inside the harbour showed just how hard it is to get an AC75 flying. Te Rehutai rose and dropped in about 5 knots of wind and flat water so the call was made to tow outside to the Rangitoto Light to find more stability. When the new boat is built, its light air profile is expected to be hugely enhanced and the tricky conundrum for all the design teams in this America’s Cup is building a boat that can perform across a wide variety of conditions. 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