Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand step up campaign as AC75 returns to Auckland and 2027 race format unveiled

Emirates Team New Zealand have returned to Auckland for a crucial winter testing programme, with the defender simultaneously gaining its clearest picture yet of the road to a fourth straight America's Cup triumph after organisers confirmed the race schedule for Naples 2027.

Fresh from an intensive European training block in Naples, the team is back on the Waitematā Harbour putting its AC75 Taihoro through a series of upgrades that could shape its design direction over the next 18 months.

The testing comes at a pivotal time after Regatta Director Iain Murray released the official racing conditions for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, confirming a revamped format that will begin with fleet racing before progressing into the traditional match-racing Challenger Selection Series.

For Emirates Team New Zealand, the two developments are closely linked.

While Taihoro is gathering vital performance data on Auckland waters, the team now knows exactly what demands await in Naples, where seven AC75s will line up together in the opening fleet races before the Challenger series determines who earns the right to challenge for the America's Cup.

Flight controller Andy Maloney said the return to New Zealand provided an ideal opportunity to assess the latest developments made to the boat while it was ashore.

"It was a really nice winter's day, 8 to 12 knots of breeze. Perfect conditions to check in on all the changes that have been made to the boat over the break and the time it's been in the shed. To see all the progression is really cool."

Taihoro stretching the legs on the Hauraki Gulf. Photos / Emirates Team New Zealand

The contrast between Naples and Auckland could hardly have been greater.

After training in temperatures approaching 40°C in Italy, the sailors swapped summer gear for dry suits and winter clothing as they resumed sailing on the Hauraki Gulf.

"It's quite a stark difference in temperature," Maloney said. "But it's pretty awesome to be out here on a nice bluebird winter day and have classic Auckland in the background with Rangitoto. It's a pretty special place for us to sail this boat."

Port helmsman Chris Draper said stepping back aboard the AC75 after spending time in the team's AC40s was a reminder of the flagship yacht's raw performance.

"The boat has had some good work done on it while we've been away, so it's been really nice to get back out," Draper said. "Sailing the AC40s feels like go-karts, so it's nice to get back in the real gear."

Olympic gold medallist Jo Aleh also welcomed the return to the team's primary race boat despite the dramatic temperature drop.

"It's a 30°C temperature difference from up in Naples," Aleh said. "I'm well acclimatised to the cold now. It's been a while since I've been on a boat, so I'm pretty happy out here."

Jo Aleh and other crew members are back in the City of Sails. Photos / Emirates Team New Zealand

Although the Auckland programme spans only two weeks, the information collected will heavily influence the team's ongoing design programme as development accelerates towards 2027.

"It's only a two-week stint, but it's amazing how much you can tick off and achieve over four or five days on the water," Maloney said. "It's a super valuable block to continue the progression over the next couple of months."

For the first time, all seven AC75s will contest six fleet races across the opening weekend of the Louis Vuitton Cup in May 2027, providing spectators with the spectacle of every team racing together while presenting crews with an entirely new tactical challenge.

As defending champion, Emirates Team New Zealand automatically qualifies for the America's Cup Match but will still compete throughout the opening fleet races and the three-round robin phase of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Although the team will race to win every encounter, its results will not count towards the challengers' standings.

Once the round robins conclude, the six challengers will continue through the Louis Vuitton Cup, with the eventual winner earning the right to face Emirates Team New Zealand in a best-of-13 America's Cup Match beginning on July 10, 2027.

The confirmed format means the defender must strike a delicate balance between gaining valuable race experience against its rivals and preserving enough time for independent development before the Match itself.

Before then, however, attention remains firmly on extracting every possible gain from Taihoro as Emirates Team New Zealand looks to build the speed needed to defend the oldest trophy in international sport for a fourth consecutive time. - with Emirates Team New Zealand