After an eleven-day training block that yielded four super-long days on the water, Emirates Team New Zealand closed out the June camp with a blistering display of down-range foiling that has been a consistent area of system development for the team as they zero-in on the expected conditions in Naples from 10th July 2027.
That’s not to say that over the four days in June, deep-winter in Auckland, that they weren’t challenged at the upper-ends on occasion, but the focus training-wise has certainly been on really optimising at the lighter end of the scale. In conditions today initially that were under the wind limit range of racing in Naples (6.5 knots), it was an impressive display as the team trod the hire-wire between manoeuvre execution and displacement with consummate ease. On this form, the early favourites and first to launch the AC75 looked imperious, yet still the development will continue apace.
Nathan Outteridge was pleased with the day and spoke about the transitions they are working on: “We were back on the M1 (today) and using the larger codes of the jibs and just sort of seeing the crossovers there. Last time we were out, we were on the M2, and we got some light air on that as well. So, it’s just always just trying to work out what we’re going to build in the future. So these days are really critical for us to get out there and just get a feel for the range the sails go through and how the boat performs right in that bottom end.”
The line between pure development and the sailors wanting to sail more, is always tricky in an America’s Cup campaign, but Nathan put it perfectly saying: “It’s a real balance between the sailors wanting to develop our skills but also develop the boat and develop the systems on the boat. Generally, what happens is the sailors, we go out there and we sail around and we’re like, “Oh, we’d like to have these kind of features.” And you can’t just snap your fingers and get those features. Then you end up having that conversation with the designers and with the performance team on what are the steps and processes to get that. And sometimes it can take an overnight change, sometimes it can be a couple of months. It’s just understanding what are the priorities in these campaigns, and when you want the new things to come online.”
Nathan also gave an insight into new hardware that could be coming on the boat soon when the team return from AC40 training in Naples that is scheduled from early July, saying: “When we started this block, we had a number of things we wanted to do over these two weeks of sailing, and each day, based on what weather you get, you try to achieve what you can. And as you go through the block, you’re ticking things off, but your list is generally getting longer than it is getting shorter. And so, the next period for us now is a non-sailing period where we’re reviewing a lot of the data, what we’ve been through, and we’re starting to get the exciting times where all these lists and things we’ve been creating are actually turning into new hardware. So new hardware’s coming on at the end of this year when we get back and go through the summer sailing period. But right now, it’s been a really fun period to get out there, do a lot of sailing and try and get some answers to the questions that the designers are always asking us.”
Recon Report – 15th June 2026
Key Points:
– Marginal foiling conditions
– Damaged Port Foil
– M1 Main used.
Clear skies and sunshine in Auckland as ETNZ rolled out of the shed at 0917 this morning. Splashing down at 0945 and off the dock at 1057. The standard crew onboard of Outteridge, Menzies, Maloney, Jensen and Aleh.
ETNZ towed down to North Head before hoisting their M1-0 main and J2-2 jib. They towed up onto the foils in a patchy 3-5 knots at 1143. Shortly after at 1149 ETNZ stopped and then inspected the outer tip of their port foil, having collided with a UFO during the tow out. After a brief inspection they decided to continue and were able to sail onto the foil in a slightly stronger 4-6 knots breeze. ETNZ was able to consistently stay on the foils through manoeuvres with only one noticeable touch and go. However, the session ended at 1216 when ETNZ fell off the foil in a gybe due to a mistimed raising of the windward board. It is unsure if mechanical or sailor error. They then stopped for lunch.
The next session started at 1228 by towing onto the foils in a lighter 3-4 knots. After a couple of manoeuvres ETNZ then made their way downwind to Waiheke in a search for a stronger breeze. With only the occasional touch and go, they ended Session 2 at 1317 off of Onetangi Bay, Waiheke.
Session 3 began at 1338 with towing onto the foils and consisted of several practice races in a steady 4-6 knots. The session ended at 1422.
ETNZ then changed to a J3-3 and towed up from Waiheke to the back ended of Rakino Island before letting go of the tow at 1451. A slightly stronger 5-8 knot NW had settled in and ETNZ slowly worked their way back up to Rangitoto Island. It was noticeable in the slightly stronger breeze how bow down ETNZ would come out of the gybes, especially going from starboard to port, and even resulting in the occasional splashdowns. The session ended at 1533 for a quick battery swap.
The final session of the day started at 1540 with a tow onto the foil. A single prestart followed by a sail home. ETNZ ended their day at 1558 dropping their sails just off North Head.
Overall a great final day of sailing for this winter block. Making the most of marginal but steady conditions for testing and practice racing.
