Emirates Team New Zealand commenced the new week with a bold display of heavy air sailing aboard their new AC75, ‘Taihoro’. Despite challenging conditions, they managed the offshore breeze, gusting over 30 knots, with aplomb and emerged unscathed.
AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:
Emirates Team New Zealand – AC75 – Day 7 – April 22, 2024 – Auckland
On Day 7, ETNZ sailed ‘Taihoro’ in the Hauraki Gulf amid strengthening southwesterly breezes. The team delayed the start to allow squalls to pass, then launched at 13:00hrs for the “Back Paddock” in more manageable conditions.
They deployed a new, smaller Main sail along with the J5, sailing upwind before executing a double board-down bear away at 15:10hrs. Maneuvers intensified, with aggressive laps in upper-range conditions until they docked at 16:31hrs.
Despite good control, the yacht occasionally touched water exiting gybes. With light fading, sails dropped, and the team returned to port.
