Kiwi’s AC40 nosedives causing structural failure
, 2022-11-21 23:43:51,
America’s Cup: Kiwi’s AC40 nosedives causing structural failure
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 21 Nov 02:35 EST
21 November 2022
Emirates Team New Zealand AC 40 – November 21, 2022 © Adam Mustill / America’s Cup
The issues of sailing foiling monohulls in top end conditions were underlined today, when Emirates Team New Zealand nosedived their AC40 during a training sail on the Hauraki Gulf and suffered substantial structural damage to its deck and bow sections.
The AC40 was towed home early afternoon, after exiting the inner Waitemata Harbour three hours earlier at around 1000hrs.
The breeze was blowing from a NW direction, which is an unusual direction but one which has been notable for several incidents with racing yachts, including the capsize of American Magic’s Patriot on Day 3 of the 2021 Prada Cup.
It seems from a statement issued by the team that they had decided to test the AC40 in the knowledge that conditions were extreme in the area, off the northern side of Waiheke Island and approximately 16nm from Auckland.
Auckland has been subject to some severe weather over the past few days, including waterspouts, and severe rainsqualls in the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Channel.
Today the conditions were relatively sheltered in the Rangitoto Channel with several cruising yachts sailing and looking comfortable in…
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