Nine very good days on the water with the AC45
The Emirates Team New Zealand AC45 testing the wing extension on Auckland Harbour
Grant Dalton blogs on a valuable week on the water ….
We had a really good nine days’ training with the AC45 in Auckland and, for a change, even the weather played ball. Along with Prada we also had plenty of close practice racing.
We also tested the wing extensions that will be used in lighter airs this season. Structurally and operationally it worked first time and we experienced no problems at all – so nice work to ACRM on that.
The boys could not pick a difference in boat performance or power between the original set up and the boat with the wing extension except when bearing away in breeze when it was evident that the extra 30kg was trying to “accelerate” over the front. Nothing scary though.
The TV guys (I get confused – are they from ACRM or ACEA?) came in for a few days as well and tested the camera gear that’s now covered by the extension. Again no issues as far as I am aware.
The boat certainly looks better with the taller rig and, probably, we were using it in stronger winds than originally intended. But when the wind is light, extension or no extension, cats don’t go that well.
This extra area also provides another branding opportunity, which when you survive off sponsorship as we do, didn’t pass me by. There has been no word on who “owns” the space. I see it this way: if ACRM “owns” the space I hope we don’t see an account for building the extension. If we do, fine by me.
But when you look at them, well built as they are, I just can’t see the hours (read expected cost to the teams) in them when they are effectively punching them out: what is it, 12 boats or so? And can all the teams afford to pay for them, or do they just get added to the “leases”.
So now both the Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand boats are packed into containers and are on their way to Naples.
For me, Joe Allen and Rod Davis next on the agenda is a trip to China. It’s quoted as the “Hawaii of China”. From what my guys tell me, anyone who thinks that has never been to Hawaii.
A lot has been written about CAMPER’s performance, both on speed and tactics. As Rod Davis says, first things first. We have to try to stop the points leakage from the in-port races.
Then there is the small matter of the race from China to Auckland to worry about. Along with Nico, we are addressing how we can turn these “nearlies”’ into “wins”. It’s a bit unlike me, but I am not going to expand on that here, not until I think we have made a move to help the situation.
And then there is the other small matter of the collapsing Euro. Now that is a headache I can assure you.
So, the next blog is from China.
GRANT
Looks like you might have left your “”advisor”", ‘Indio’ a wee bit disappointed, but WE (the rest…) are very happy!!!
I’m sure Camper will find her legs and I’m really looking forward to welcoming her first boat in the Hauraki.
[ As for the Euro, it's hardball played for long now by ruthless against ignorant on the back of the rest of the world... I sense the deal with Prada is in Euros???? ]
G.
^^^Read between the lines Georgie boy…or is it all Greek to you? “Nico” is about to receive a few home-truths about how his sub-par performance is impacting on the ETNZ brand.
Dalton clearly knows there’s a problem aboard Camper, and he does not attribute most of it on the boat design.
I’m picking Minoprio to helm in the in-port race.
There certainly is some issue with Camper and like many suspect its not just some technical aspect of the boat itself. Its a shame since there is so much potential in that crew to do better.
AC45′s look better with that wing extension but indeed…who owns that extra space.
skipper and steer if you ask me Indio – he’s an expert in in-shore racing, so should get control of the boat when that’s what they’re doing, then hand it over to Nico once the ocean racing starts.