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The NZL Sailing Team got their first taste of racing today on the AC45s as they prepare for June's Red Bull Youth America's Cup.
(The NZL Sailing Team are sailing on the AC45s they will use for the Youth America's Cup. Photo: Red Bull)
The weather was perfect in Bermuda, with 10-15 knots, which was a welcome change after a handful of windy days which made sailing impossible (the Youth America's Cup teams are hit with a 17-knot limit).
The NZL Sailing Team took advantage of the conditions, as well as the fact a host of other Red Bull Youth America's Cup teams are in Bermuda, to sail some practice races against Next Generation USA and Team Tilt from Switzerland.
They were able to get the boat in full foiling mode when reaching and downwind and got up to 28 knots as they started to get to grips with the boat handling, manouevres and sail choices. This is their first taste of the AC45s they will use in the June regatta.
"[It was the] first day in the breeze and I absolutely loved it," trimmer Isaac McHardie said. "The team worked well.
"We had some glamour reaching starts and came away with mostly wins and 1-2 losses, so happy with today.
"We are heading out in the morning [tomorrow] hopefully to get a bit more training in. All the other teams will be there doing a bit of training as well so hopefully we will get a bit more racing in."
Teams from the United States, Bermuda, Japan, Spain, Great Britain and Switzerland are in Bermuda - 12 teams will contest June's Red Bull Youth America's Cup - and all are allowed seven days on-the-water training in this block.
The Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, which is for sailors aged 19-25, starts on June 12 in Bermuda and the finals not only run alongside the America’s Cup match but are sailed on the same course. They will sail the foiling AC45s used for the America’s Cup World Series which can reach speeds up to 40 knots.
The 12 teams have been divided into two groups of six with the NZL Sailing Team in Pool B with Team Bermuda, Land Rover BAR Academy (Great Britain), Spanish Impulse Team, Next Generation USA and Candidate Sailing Team (Austria). The top four teams from each pool will progress to the finals.
New Zealand are defending champions after winning the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013 with Peter Burling at the helm.
