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The New Zealand SailGP Team have been on another massive learning curve this week in anticipation for the second round of the circuit in Taranto, Italy.
The team, who were fifth in the eight-boat fleet in the first round in Bermuda, will be without Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Erica Dawson for the next two rounds as they concentrate on the upcoming Olympics.
They have recruited Switzerland's Arnaud Psarofaghis to helm, along with New Zealand's Jason Saunders and Australian James Wierzbowski, and the trio jumped on board for the team's first training session overnight (NZ time).
“With Aranuad and [wing trimmer] Jason having two key control roles on the boat, it was a baptism of fire today," Andy Maloney told Stuff. "We had quite a good breeze.
“Arnaud has done a lot of catamaran sailing, he has done some good speeds, but there is definitely nothing quite like the F50.
"He had a great time today. He had a huge smile on his face a couple of times when we were accelerating really quickly and going at some stop speeds. I’m pretty sure he broke his personal speed record today, so that’s pretty cool.”
The teams have another free practice session tonight before two days of official practice racing in preparation for the real thing.
Sir Ben Ainslie and Great Britain took maximum points from the year's opening round in Bermuda, toppling Australia in the two-boat final.
An improving France team were third but Japan and the US were invalided out of the regatta prematurely when they collided and finished at the tail of the scoreboard.
Racing takes place in Taranto on Saturday and Sunday nights (NZ time), with three fleet races scheduled for both days before the final showdown.
You can catch the action on Sky Sport in New Zealand from 11.30pm with full replays the following morning. See the full TV guide here.
