In a N-NE breeze that built from 7-12 knots and a flat sea-state out on the Watemata Harbour in Auckland, Emirates Team New Zealand took flight in their re-configured Taihoro for a five-hour session that started with a systems check at 1100 before dock-out at 1130 and ended at 1639 (NZ time).
The boat left the dock at 11:30 and arrived on the AC course E, inland of Waiheke Island. Conditions were TWD 040–050° with 9–12 knots TWS. After a long tow and what appeared to be some non-hardware technical issues, ETNZ started hoisting sails at 12:50, raising the mainsail and the J3 (hoisted high, approximately at the 50% mainsail shape stripe).
ETNZ began sailing at 13:40 and started on starboard tack. It took some time to invert the heel and achieve take-off. After one tack to port and a few minutes of sailing, they stopped to adjust the jib foot line, which was flapping. At 13:48, they resumed sailing upwind for about 5 minutes, executing 5 tacks, before stopping again to open the front hatch and debrief. At 14:20, they began a two-lap race simulation, sailing for about 20 minutes and executing: 8 tacks, 5 gybes, 2 bear-aways, 2 round-ups.
ETNZ stopped sailing at 14:40. The RIB came alongside and technicians boarded the boat. At 14:48, they started a jib change, which took approximately 12 minutes. They changed to a J2, which has a luff approximately a couple of metres longer than the J3.
At 15:10, they resumed sailing for 15 minutes, executing: 5 tacks, 4 gybes, 1 bear-away, 1 round-up At 15:24, ETNZ stopped again to adjust the jib foot line, resuming sailing at 15:26. They then sailed another two-lap race simulation, executing 11 tacks and 8 gybes over 24 minutes. At 15:50, ETNZ stopped for a quick debrief and snacks. During this time the wind dropped to 10–12 knots.
They resumed sailing at 16:05. At 16:20, they performed two practice pre-starts: one entering on port, one entering on starboard. At 16:39, ETNZ lowered the sails and returned to the dock.
Crew onboard:
Starboard trimmer: Blair Tuke
Port trimmer: Iain Jensen
Starboard helm: Nathan Outteridge
Port helm: Seb Menzies
Starboard hull (behind helmsman): Jo Aleh