Join Matt Brown, around the world sailor Bianca Cook and AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams to preview all of the action ahead of the Prada Cup. Video / NZ Herald
American Magic is taking no solace from Team New Zealand's troubles in practice this week.
Te Rehutai suffered a spectacular capsize in racing against Ineos Team UK on Monday while Peter Burling again struggled in the start box, soundly beaten by Ben Ainslie.
It was a continuation of the themebefore Christmas in the America's Cup World Series regatta where the Cup defender struggled in the pre-start but had the boat speed to make amends around the course.
The Americans were the only challenger to notch up a win against Team New Zealand in that regatta but Patriot flight controller Andrew Campbell insists Team New Zealand's latest dramas are not signs of weakness.
"Watching them capsize yesterday shows how hard they are pushing the boat so you know we need to go out and push it as hard or harder to make the gains we are making," Campbell said.
Team NZ capsize Te Rehutai. Photo / Photosport
"To see the work still being done over there shows how hard we have to work."
The Americans' immediate focus are rival challengers Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK.
Much was made of the British team's struggles in the pre-Christmas regatta, particularly during the lighter wind conditions but Campbell senses the gap has closed somewhat ahead of the Prada Cup.
"We never wrote them off," he said. "Those guys are a strong team and have a lot of good sailors and smart people in their shed so you can never write them off.
"I said it before the Christmas Cup - everybody in this regatta is going to win races and I know they are going to be really tough. So the results from last month don't really matter at all and we know they have made improvements and will be sharper around the racetrack."
While he expects improvement from their rivals Campbell says American Magic is getting faster all the time too.
"We made some nice improvements after the regatta and I think we are still leapfrogging, the boats are still on a steep part of this learning curve and there's a lot to be learned in the first few weeks of sailing."
American Magic. Photo / Dean Purcell
American Magic's concerns over the Race Management System, raised with the Arbitration Panel, have been somewhat allayed after official practice on race course E.
American Magic told the hearing: "The Race Management System is a complex electronic system supplied and provided by the organisers and it includes the Media System on board each AC75.
"For the crew to see the on-board instrument data while racing, such data must first pass through the Media System and from there to the displays and screens of the AC75.
"Furthermore, all racecourse information and all umpire calls are managed and received by a competing AC75 in the Race Management System.
"In short, with the failure of the Race Management System, no fair racing is possible.
"All competitors (during the pre-Christmas sailing) have experienced serious failures... which fundamentally curtailed their ability to race and foil the boat safely."
American Magic and Team New Zealand during the World Series. Photo / Brett Phibbs
But speaking after Monday's practice session, Campbell felt regatta director Iain Murray and his team were effectively sorting out the problems that plagued the pre-Christmas regatta.
"We have confidence in Iain's team and those guys are doing a good job. It's been a good idea to have these two practice days for them and it works great for us. We are happy to have the system up and running and working and happy to provide feedback as best as we can and we didn't have any issues yesterday I don't think."
Heading into the Cup racing?
• Be aware that traffic will be busy, and parking will be very limited.
• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus instead.
• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride to the Cup.
