Emirates Team New Zealand resumed sailing activities after the Auckland holiday weekend. Their first day back on Tuesday provided a mix of breezes – starting with light airs before a 15-20 knots breeze picked up later on. The day offered ideal conditions for speed testing.
Emirates Team New Zealand experienced a dynamic testing day on Day 60, offering a blend of light marginal foiling winds from the southwest initially, followed by a sudden shift to stronger 15-20 knot breezes from the same direction. The session commenced with the M2-3 Main Sail and the J2-2 Jib.
Despite initial challenges in finding adequate breeze for foiling in the first 20 minutes, ETNZ adapted swiftly, positioning the session off the northwest side of Rangitoto Island to leverage the breeze along its shore. The focus remained on various tacks and gybes throughout the session.
Notably, executing tacks became more challenging with the older foil on starboard, leading to consistent leeward heeling before tacks and locked-in windward heel post-tack. All gybes were accomplished as full foilers, even in marginal conditions, with occasional prolonged holding of the old board to generate heat before lifting.
At 13:45, stronger southwest winds prompted a switch to the smaller J3 Jib. ETNZ continued practicing tacks and gybes before embarking on longer upwind tacks toward Bean Rock and the inner harbor. They explored different sailing modes, especially upwind, adjusting foil height and angle for optimal performance.
The session concluded with an upwind sail along the harbor and a few circles under the harbor bridge, ending at 15:15 at the Viaduct Harbour and Emirates Team New Zealand Base. It marked an ideal testing session, showcasing adaptability to varying conditions on the Gulf.
