We were especially pleased to see the Black Foils’ F50, Amokura, not only craned back into the water but out on the Waitematā Harbour putting her recent repairs through their paces.
But it will not be all smooth sailing this coming weekend.
SailGP has adjusted the race schedule for Sunday 15 February, day two of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, following an evolving weather forecast and the increased likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms over the Waitematā Harbour.
Racing will now begin at 1130 on Sunday 15 February, moved forward from the originally scheduled 1600 start time.
The schedule for Saturday 14 February remains unchanged, with racing set to begin at 1600.
The decision was made following consultation with Auckland Council Events and key event stakeholders, with athlete safety and competitive integrity the primary considerations.
Weather outlook for the weekend
Forecast conditions over the Waitematā Harbour point to unsettled weather across the weekend.
For the remainder of Friday, there is up to a 45 percent chance of rain. Winds are expected to build overnight to around 24 km/h (13 knots) in the early hours before easing slightly, then strengthening again through Saturday afternoon to around 26 km/h (14 knots).
On Saturday morning, the chance of rain is forecast to peak at around 45 percent near 9:30 a.m., before reducing into the afternoon. Winds are expected to continue building overnight into Sunday, reaching approximately 35 km/h (19 knots) during Sunday afternoon, with sustained speeds of 26 to 27 km/h (14 to 15 knots) through the late morning and early afternoon.
In breeze strength of 14 to 19 knots, teams would typically expect to race with the 18-metre wing configuration across both days (as seen in the photo), depending on final race management calls and on-water conditions.
Thunderstorm risk later on Sunday afternoon prompted organisers to bring racing forward, ensuring the fleet can compete within a more stable weather window.
Learn more https://sailgp.com/news/26/sailgp-issues-updated-race-timings-sunday-february-15-new-zealand/
