Emirates Team New Zealand are back sailing in Barcelona.
Since Taihoro’s arrival at the base in late June, after a 28-day shipping journey from New Zealand, the Emirates Team New Zealand shore crew has worked tirelessly to get the boat ready for its first sail, including fitting and preparing two new foils.
With thunderstorms crossing Catalonia the team waited patiently for them to pass before heading out for the first time – a brief afternoon sail in a building 10-18 knot SW breeze and lumpy sea state.
“It is great to have reached this really important milestone that we’ve had for well over a year now – to be sailing back in Barcelona by July 1st which we have actually exceeded by a day or so,” said Emirates Team New Zealand COO Kevin Shoebridge.
Emirates Team New Zealand are the last of the teams competing in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup to be sailing in Barcelona, with the five challengers now well ensconced in host city and getting used to the varied conditions that the racecourse offers up.
“To be honest it hasn’t been easy watching all of the other teams tick up the days sailing on their new AC75’s here in Barcelona, clearly improving and getting faster.
“But we have our own programme to focus on, so the importance of hitting these milestones cannot be understated and the work that goes into reaching them from every person in the team cannot be understated.”
https://emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com/
