Sailing crew, designers and technicians checked systems in preparation for the resumption tomorrow of the on-the-water build-up for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup in the first week of July.

Today the breeze was light – from five to 15 knots. The AC72 was on the Bay for two hours. Tomorrow’s forecast is for light breeze in the morning, building to 16-20 knots in the afternoon.

Luna Rossa and Oracle also sailed today.

Chris Cameron’s pictures from today are here.

Hitting the water today – May 23 in San Francisco – was a target set three months ago.

Back at the base, Grant Dalton said: “A great day, no issues at all. The guys know their jobs, the systems work and even though we have made significant changes since Auckland, we always expected the boat to pop put of the box.

“It was perfect. Oracle was out there; Luna Rossa was out there. The boys got straight into it – foiling across the face of the Golden Gate Bridge -something we have had in mind for a couple of years.

“So now we get into it properly tomorrow.

Skipper Dean Barker was also pleased with the first day. “It was good to get out there and get a feel for the Bay. There was not much breeze by San Francisco standards, but enough on the first day.

“We have made a lot of changes to the boat since Auckland. Everything will be checked overnight and we will be back on the water tomorrow.”

He said the shore crew and logistics people had done a remarkable job moving the base from Auckland to San Francisco in a compressed time frame. “Now we can think about going racing.”

Emirates Team New Zealand welcomes the finding of the committee reviewing the fatal incident involving the Artemis Racing AC72. The committee’s recommendations were released today in San Francisco.

Managing director Grant Dalton said the team supports the review committee’s recommendations in principle. “They are prudent and reasonable,” he said.

“The committee has done some remarkable work in only six days. The details still have to be worked on but we see nothing that will adversely affect the event.

“We have confidence in our boat – design, engineering and construction – and the sailing and support crews. We have invested a lot of time and money on safety.”

The Emirates Team, New Zealand AC72 is ready to be re-launched. The team plans a quick shakedown sail tomorrow (Thursday San Francisco time) before re-starting training and development programme on Friday.

The ACRM release to media on the safety recommendation said:

Structural reviews of AC72 boats and wings, a 10-knot lower wind limit (23 knots maximum) and enhanced sailor safety equipment are among the 37 recommendations issued today to increase safety.

Many of the recommendations are intended to increase the personal safety of the sailors and they include buoyancy aids, body armour, crew locator devices, hands-free breathing apparatus and high-visibility helmets.

Other recommendations are specific to the AC72 yachts, additional support equipment and race management.


Regatta Director Iain Murray, presented his report at a meeting with the four competing teams and the America’s Cup Event Authority on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco.



For reasons of insurance and liability, the Review Committee stopped short of making its own recommendations.

Regatta Director Iain Murray has formulated the specific safety recommendations. 
These additional recommendations have been incorporated into the safety plan produced by the America’s Cup, which was forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard today.



“Producing and implementing the safety plan is within the scope of the America’s Cup, as the sponsoring organization for this summer’s racing,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the America’s Cup.

“This America’s Cup safety plan is a necessary component of the permit application submitted to the Coast Guard for their consideration.”



Iain Murray will now form a number of task forces to bring in experts to define additional technical recommendations for specific safety items such as protective gear for sailors.



Since its first meeting on May 16, the Review Committee has interviewed 25 team members including team heads, skippers, designers, engineers, sailors and support boat operators.


“All four competing America’s Cup teams have cooperated in an open, helpful and constructive way,” Murray said, “and the Review Committee noted there is a clear desire on the part of the teams to ensure the safety of the America’s Cup as much as possible.”

It’s not an easy task to get the big cat ready to sail, especially when parts arrive off the ship in sections – namely the 37-metre wing sail.

The man in charge of putting it all back together is Jon Douglas, or otherwise known simply as JD.

When asked how many pieces make up the sail he gives a sigh, a small smile and simply says, “tens of thousands.”

Progress is made in front of your eyes in the wing tent as they work towards hoisting it high and onto the AC72 for the first time again in just a matter of days.

Regatta director Iain Murray and Tom Ehman, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, made the announcement after a meeting of the four teams this morning.

Today’s meeting followed the incident last week in which the Artemis AC72 capsized and broke up, killing crewman Andrew Simpson.

Organisers also announced an expert panel will be formed, chaired by Iain Murray, charged with reviewing the incident last week and the training and racing of AC72 yachts in the 2013 America’s Cup.

Chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge represented Emirates Team New Zealand at the meeting, which lasted for 90 minutes.

Artemis was represented by Paul Cayard, Oracle Team USA’s representation included Russell Coutts and James Spithill and Luna Rossa by Max Serena and  Luis Sainz.

Kevin Shoebridge said: “This is just the start of the process. It is the intention of the review panel to look at every aspect of the regatta and particularly the safety aspects. 

The panel will make recommendations after a thorough process has been completed, including discussions with all competing teams and organisers.

Members of the committee have backgrounds in the sailing at its highest levels as well as involvement in reviews where an incident at sea has claimed the life of a competitor.

Other members are: Sally Lindsay Honey (USA, deputy chair), John Craig (USA),
Chuck Hawley (USA), Vincent Lauriot-Prévost (FRA), Jim Farmer QC (NZL).

Jim Farmer has resigned as a director and trustee of Emirates Team New Zealand for the duration of the review. He will be reappointed when the review is completed.

Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton says it is important from the review to be seen as totally independent. 

Ehman said: “The Committee brings immense experience and expertise to this Review. At a meeting in San Francisco this morning, the teams expressed unanimous support for this Committee and this process.”

The Review Committee will report as soon as possible, given that racing starts in seven weeks. The results are expected within two weeks.

Racing starts at San Francisco in early July when the challengers compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The winner of the LV Cup goes forward to race Oracle for the America’s Cup in September.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says major eventslike the America’s Cup provide an opportunity for NewZealand companies to showcase their expertise on the international stage.

“New Zealand has a strong marine and digital technology association with the America’s Cup, and this programme is about leveraging off and growing that strong relationship,” Mr Joyce says.

The programme is being developed alongside the sailing event. As part of an agreement signed between the Government and Emirates Team New Zealand, New Zealand businesses will have exclusive access to the America’s Cup racing and ETNZ’s base in San Francisco.

The home base for the events organised by ETNZ, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, will be Waka Maori, a 70-metre venue fashioned in the form of a traditional waka, built by Ngati Whatua o Orakei and used on the Auckland waterfront for Rugby World Cup 2011.

“New Zealand is a dominant player in the America’s Cup and we are taking full advantage of that position to promote New Zealand’s other stories and capabilities,” Mr  Joyce says. “The United States is our third biggest trading partner and our goods and services exports continue to grow there. California alone is a market of 38 million people and remains at the
heart of global innovation.

“Waka Maori creates a New Zealand landmark that will be seen from the surrounding high rises and Bay Bridge during the America’s Cup.”

New Zealand innovation will be evident during the Cup, with componentry for three of the four racing yachts designed and built in New Zealand; Kiwi-made super-yachts berthed at the marina, an official America’s Cup smartphone app made  by Dunedin’s Animation Research Ltd, and New Zealand food and wine featuring on the menus of San Francisco restaurants.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia chief executive officer Tupara Morrison said it’s an honour to have Waka Māori make the journey to San Francisco alongside Emirates Team New Zealand.“Waka Māori was originally commissioned by the hapū to showcase Māoritanga and welcome visitors to Aotearoa and we are pleased that this arrangement with Emirates Team New Zealand again puts Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on the world stage.

“Waka Māori will provide a unique glimpse of New Zealand, the home of the world’s greatest sailors, on foreign shores and that is great,” said Mr Morrison.

“It will also be a special place for Kiwi businesses to meet and greet their international colleagues and guests,” said Mr Morrison.

Waka Māori will be used by Emirates Team New Zealand’s major sponsors including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, which will showcase Kiwi businesses and promote Auckland and New Zealand as a tourism destination.

Emirates Team New Zealand chief executive officer Grant Dalton says the team is proud to have Waka Maori as a key part of its base.

“The waka will be a prominent part of the downtown San Francisco waterfront for four months and will be a great showcase for New Zealand. “We look forward to representing New Zealand, our sponsors and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei over the coming months.”

Despite Auckland seeing more Americas Cup action over the summer than where the event is going to be held, it is now apparent that the mass migration north is well and truly underway.
The massive tents have gone, the dozens of containers have vanished, the fleet of chase boats hs departed and of course the AC72 is somewhere in the Pacific Ocean heading towards the northeast.
Only a handful of stragglers remain in the shell of the big red and black Emirates Team New Zealand shed tying up loose ends and getting ready to join the growing contingent on Pier 30/32 under the bay bridge in San Francisco.

Remarkably it is now only a matter of weeks until the entire team will be fully functional and back flying around in the AC72 on a very crowded San Francisco bay- there isn’t a lot of water for four AC72’s and all of their entourages.

Things move quickly in this game, so this calm before the storm is time to take a breath and get ready for a dramatic five months ahead.

Pictures from the last day at Naples are here.

America’s Cup World Series Naples Standings

1. Luna Rossa Swordfish (Francesco Bruni) – 80 points
2. ORACLE TEAM USA (Tom Slingsby) – 80
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) – 71
4. Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) – 70
5. J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) – 65
6. Energy Team (Yann Guichard) – 58
7. Artemis Racing White (Charlie Ekberg) – 40
8. HS Racing (R. Hagara/H.S. Steinacher) – 36
9. China Team (Mitch Booth) – 30