Campaign crunch time arrives for Team NZ

• Published date: 14 April 2024
• Author: Yachting Christopher Reive
• Publication title: Herald on Sunday

With the launch of their new AC75 on Friday afternoon, the America’s Cup defenders now have a definitive window in which to work before they pack up and head for Barcelona

While sailing in Spain does not start until the final preliminary regatta in late August, Team New Zealand will lose weeks as their AC75 is shipped to Barcelona.

The shipping time between Auckland and Barcelona is around six weeks, and with Team New Zealand having a target of sailing their AC75 in Spain in early July, it gives them five to seven weeks, at best, to put the boat through its paces.

Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge said the team had “a couple of weeks” of trialling, testing and developing on the boat, but noted the looming pack-up was not all that far away.

“It’s a big step forward. We’re glad we made our date — or slightly overachieved on that by a few days — to get the rig in now,” Shoebridge said.

“It’s a good moment for the team and it signals the start of the final phase, really.”

It will see the main sailing team reunite on board with the power unit for the first time since they retired Te Rehutai — their second-edition AC75 on which they defended the Auld Mug in Auckland — late last October.

The cyclors have been doing power-specific training, while the helmsmen, flight...