From the sweltering heat of Southern Europe to crisp, clear Waitematā skies, Emirates Team New Zealand are back on home waters pushing the development and design envelope of their AC75. After wrapping up an intense summer block in Naples, where temperatures soared to nearly 40°C, the team traded lightweight gear for dry suits and winter layers as Taihoro, returned to action for a high-value testing stint on the Hauraki Gulf.
The contrast couldn’t be starker, but the focus remains identical: relentless design and development chasing speed and precision. Returning to Auckland’s winter conditions is providing a fresh canvas to evaluate a series of upgrades fitted to Taihoro while locked away in the shed when the team were up in Naples. With a critical two-week window on the local calendar, every hour on the water counts toward shaping key design and performance decisions for the 2027 racing cycle.
For the sailors, jumping straight back into the AC75 after time away provided an immediate metric on the team’s ongoing development. “Awesome to be back out on Taihoro,” said Flight Controller Andy Maloney after the opening session. “It was a really nice winter’s day, 8 to 12 knots of breeze. Nice southerly and perfect conditions really to just check in on all the changes that have been made to the boat over the break and the time it’s been in the shed. To see all the progression is really cool.”
Maloney noted the shift in climate, but welcomed the classic local backdrop: “Compared to sailing the AC40 in Naples to come here to the middle of winter and to sail on the AC75… quite a stark difference in temperature, but pretty awesome to be out here on a nice bluebird winter day and have classic Auckland in the background with Rangitoto. Pretty special place for us to sail this boat as well.”
That sentiment was shared across the crew, with port helmsman Chris Draper highlighting the sheer step up in power moving from the training fleet back to the big boat. “Great to be back in the AC75,” Draper said. “The boat has had some good work done on it while we’ve been away, so it’s been really nice to get back out. It’s a chilly day, but absolutely stunning. Sailing the AC40s feels like go-karts, so it’s nice to get back in the real gear.”
For Olympic gold medallist Jo Aleh, returning to the boat offered a sharp, rewarding reset. “It’s a 30°C temperature difference from up in Naples for the guys,” Aleh noted. “But, I am well acclimatised to the cold now! It’s been a while since I’ve been on a boat, so I’m pretty happy out here. We’re definitely lucky with today’s weather. A bit chilly, but going well. Nice to be back on the water.”
Though brief, this winter block carries immense weight for the team’s long-term technical roadmap. The telemetry gathered over the coming days will directly inform the next generation of design choices leading into 2027.
“It’s only a two-week stint that we’ve got here in the middle of winter to check in on the changes,” added Maloney. “But it’s amazing how much you can tick off and achieve over 4 or 5 days on the water. Super valuable block to get back out on the AC75 and to continue the progression going over the next couple of months.”
The next milestone on the Road to the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is the Preliminary Regatta in Naples, taking place from 24–27 September 2026. The event will follow the same race format as the opening regatta in Cagliari, with each team once again able to field two AC40 entries. Armed with valuable lessons from Sardinia and a recent training block on the Bay of Naples, Emirates Team New Zealand will return to the racecourse ready to build on that momentum. Find out how to watch, follow the live racing, and stay up to date with all the action HERE.
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