Cup Spy Nov 9: Kiwis look slick and quick in good testing breeze
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 9 Nov 2023 01:30 PST
9 November 2023
Emirates Team New Zealand - AC40 - Day 32 - Auckland - November 9, 2023 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
Having not seen Emirates Team New Zealand sailing an AC40 for five months, it was hard to resist popping down to the waterfront for a look and shoot, on what felt like a summer's day.
For the second day since their return from Barcelona, the Kiwis continued to conduct wing foil and sail testing on their LEQ12 on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.
From the chase boat track they spent about 2.5hours sailing in the Course D area from the 2021 America's Cup (which was never used) - and beyond in the passage between several of the Gulf Islands, which gave flat sheltered water - ideal for speed testing on the new wing foil, revealed earlier in the week.
The breeze started light - around 7kts - slightly above the minimum for starting a race, but filled in to 10-15kts, but was angled more south than usual - which allowed the straight long runs upwind and down - ideal for speed testing.
The AC40/LEQ12 was kept slightly heeled to windward most of the time, with the point of balance appearing to be reached when the tip of the windward foil wing was close to cutting the surface. It was also trimmed slightly bow down - but not as extreme as we have seen in the past.
The advantage is to impart maximum leeway resistance from the leeward, however if the windward wing tip strikes the water, the drag is increased and if the boat hits an area of soft pressure, then it can fall into windward. Due to the geography of the inner Waitemata - with this direction of wind - soft patches are like pot-holes. But as the yacht got clear of North Head, and the harbour widens, the pot-holes in the breeze become less frequent.
As can be seen on Justin Mitchell's video the runs were very even, without any handling issues - and the AC40/LEQ12 looked fast judging by the chase boat speed.
Interestingly the team did not go down to The Paddock, (Course E where most of the 2021 AC was sailed) off Eastern Beach - presumably because of the more southerly angle of the breeze offered good straight line test runs.
The temperature was warmer, because of the sunshine and clear skies, but the southerly direction gave it a nip. A large area of high pressure is moving across New Zealand. Friday is forecast to have moderate easterlies (sea breeze) in the afternoon.
After the session, the AC37 Joint Recon team asked Bobby Kleinschmidt, a naval architect and foil designer with Emirates Team NZ, was asked how he felt the Kiwi's foil program was progressing. "It all seems to be working as anticipated, which is good. There's a whole bunch of differences between the foils. Every time we build a new foil, there are different things that we want to learn. It's not necessarily just trying to do what we would as the next race foil but intentionally doing a few things differently that we can learn from."
Kleinschmidt was put on the spot when asked for his view of the other team's programs. "It's hard to know because the differences between the different designs are getting smaller as time goes on," he replied. "I'd say most of the teams have already launched their full complement of LEQ12 foils. It's hard to know what direction they'll take for their race foil."
AC37 Joint Recon Team Report:
Emirates Team New Zealand - LEQ12 - Day 39 - November 9, 2023 - Auckland - AC37 Joint Recon Unit
Day 39 for the ETNZ LEQ12 proved to be another champagne day out on the Hauraki Gulf. The LEQ12 was lifted into the water at 1225hrs before docking out at 1300hrs.
The sails were hoisted and the yachting began at 1340hrs from Mechanics Bay.
Initially the team did a couple of laps between Bean Rock and Mechanics Bay while waiting for breeze to build throughout the Gulf. After these laps, they sailed a long downwind executing all full foiling gybes in low range breeze before setting up for most of the practice session between Motutapu and Waiheke.
Wind speed at the start of the day was as low as 7kts, but steadily built throughout the day finishing with averages around 16–17kts.
A lot of maneuvers were carried out earlier in the session. All but 3 were full foiling, with two touch and go tacks and one full touch down. Later in the session the team was seen carrying out longer runs on port and starboard tack upwind and down, most likely to gain as much comparative data on each foil seeing as it was the second day out on the new port foil.
It could be seen that the team were trying different modes and really pushing the piercing modes and ride heights especially on starboard tack.
At 1500hrs, the team decided to swap the J2 out and hoist the J3. Breeze had built to a steady 13-15kts at this stage.
The team continued to sail between Motutapu and Waiheke for another 10 minutes, including a quick impromptu pre-start drill before sailing back towards Orakei and Devonport back up the harbour.
A long sail back upwind which included a few tacks and a long port tack where the boys could be seen sailing different high and low modes. Once arriving back up towards Orakei, a few more short laps and maneuvers were carried out, all full foiling and looking very smooth.
Sails were dropped at 1608hrs and the boat was back at the dock 1630hrs. Another great sailing day out on the gulf for the team, all looking pretty happy with the day and the conditions.
Session Statistics: Emirates Team New Zealand - LEQ12 - November 9, 2023 - Auckland
- Weather: Slightly Overcast 19°C
- Wind Strength 7-16kts
- Wind Direction: 185°-228°
- Sea State: Flat 0.1mtr
- Crane In: 1225hrs Dock Out: 1300hrs
- Dock In: 1630hrs Crane out: 1710hrs
- Total Tacks: 39 - Fully foiling: 35; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 2
- Total Gybes: 29 - Fully foiling: 29; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
Crew: Peter Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke.