Emirates Team New Zealand shows promise on practice race day

Emirates Team New Zealand shows promise on practice race day in Portsmouth

After nearly two years since the last official racing of an America’s Cup cycle, today the six teams competing for the 35th America’s Cup finally got to line up for two official races, albeit as practice racing as a lead in to the first Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth.

On a wet, dreary and cold summers day in conditions that were lighter than anticipated, with a 5- 11 knot shifty breeze, it was a strong initial showing for the team with Peter Burling on the helm taking a 3rd and a 1st in the two races.

The first race of the day was about big gains and loses for the fleet spread across the Solent racecourse. For Emirates Team New Zealand, after a solid start rounding the first reach mark in third place, it was about holding onto position around the course and finished in the same position as they started.

“The breeze was quite a bit shiftier than what we thought it was going to be. A lot of mode changing and gear changing today so the teams that picked their way around the track and changed gears the best did the best of the day.” said skipper Glenn Ashby.

The second race was a rags to riches story for the new look sailing team after a troubled start resulted in the Emirates Team New Zealand boat trailing well behind the fleet off the start line.
“After the bad start we knuckled down into our work and ground our way through the fleet with big gains sailing up the beat to windward,” said tactician Ray Davies. “Our crew work felt slick throughout which was really encouraging for us considering the little time we have had sailing together in this boat.”

Despite the promising results the team continue to manage expectations for this regatta as Skipper Glenn Ashby explains.
“We have only sailed the AC45 F for nine days now and we are still learning our crew maneuvers but getting the boat around the track better and better each day. So really our goal of this regatta is to continue to build and strengthen as a team, with an eye on the long term goal in 2017.”

“But today was great, It gave us a good feel for what the race course is going to be like and how the race committee are going to set up the race course tomorrow, so we are looking forward to getting into it then.”

Racing starts tomorrow with two races, followed by two double points races on Sunday, which make up the regatta.

ENDS

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