Two of the America’s Cup Challengers ventured out onto the Hauraki Gulf this morning. For British entry, INEOS Team UK it was her second look at the Waitemata since the unfortunate ending of the Xmas Cup, almost ten days ago.
The Brits towed out foilborne as is their usual way, and headed for Course E and the Tamaki Strait, which separates Waiheke from the mainland. There were no obvious signs of any alterations – and being foilborne any changes to her wings were beneath the surface.
Luna Rossa followed an hour later and turned left to head out into the Hauraki Gulf. This is the fourth training session for the Italian since the America’s Cup World Series.
We managed to catch both AC75’s as they returned to Auckland this evening, sailing home in a 20kts SW breeze (offshore) gusting 25kts.
INEOS Team UK is staying
INEOS looked to be handling the conditions well and looked fast, but as we have seen in the America’s Cup World Series, Velocity Made Good is a more telling number than boatspeed. Similarly for Luna Rossa when she returned a few minutes later – fast reaching in the fresh breeze along the North Shore beaches. American Magic sailed immediately after the World Series event and has been off the water since. Emirates Team NZ has not sailed since the World Series/Xmas Cup.
Given that most of Auckland seems to be on holiday, we took advantage of the light traffic to catch both teams as they hauled out.
Race boat on January 13
It would seem that INEOS Team UK is staying with the oft-criticized wings used in the America’s Cup World Series. However not too much should be read into the Brits current use of those wings – if another set are being reshaped. Alternatively, INEOS may not agree with the pundits’ view that the wings are indeed the issue.
The Challengers must declare their configuration of their race boat on January 13, 2021 for the first round of the Prada Cup which starts on January 15, 2021.
Sail World
