Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling in Barcelona. Video / Michael Burgess
Team New Zealand could be back on the water and competing as soon as the next race day of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series, with the damage to their AC75 Taihoro not as bad as first feared.
Taihoro was damaged yesterday morning when being carried to its cradle by crane after the team’s lone race on the opening day of the challenger series.
The America’s Cup defender was quick to rule out a return to racing on day two of the double round-robin event – in which Team NZ do not accrue points – and has spent the past day working to get the boat back on the water as soon as possible.
The team confirmed they were setting their sights on a return to action tomorrow, with the damage not as significant as expected.
“There was a big scope of work to figure out where the damage was and how to fix it. The structural damage is reasonably significant, but it was all stuff we can repair to the hull,” structural engineer Dave Olsen said.
“You wouldn’t say we were lucky because it was a bad afternoon, but compared to what it could have been we are feeling very thankful for sure.
“The shore crew and boat builders are world-class; they turn this stuff around really high quality and really quickly. They are all putting in big hours and we will get this boat back on the water and racing again.”
Team NZ were scheduled to compete in two races on the second day of the Louis Vuitton Cup this morning, against Ineos Britannia and Orient Express Racing Team – two teams who claimed wins on day one of the competition.
Although Team NZ were not on the water on day two, regatta regulations required races to start in order for the win to be awarded so Orient Express and Ineos Britannia were still going to have to successfully get across the starting line.
The light winds, however, meant Orient Express didn’t even get a chance to get onto the course.
There was plenty of waiting on the wind to pick up on day two of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Photo / Ricardo Pinto, America's Cup
Racing was abandoned on day two after the second race (Ineos Britannia’s free win over the Kiwis) as the wind failed to stay above the minimum limit of 6.5 knots.
Just like day one saw delays while the breeze was building, day two was perhaps even lighter as the one proper race that did get under way – American Magic against Alinghi Red Bull Racing – resulted in both teams spending time sailing in displacement mode.
It started with a mistake from Alinghi in the starting box when they dropped off their foils, gifting American Magic a handy lead off the starting line – the reverse of American Magic’s day-one loss to Ineos Britannia.
While the Americans also struggled to stay foiling, they were able to hold their lead and do enough to secure the win to get their first point on the board.
After Ineos Britannia successfully got over the starting line in their ghost race against Team NZ, race management opted to change the direction of the course in the hope of finding a more consistent breeze as Luna Rossa and American Magic waited patiently to get to work.
It wasn’t to be, though, with race management calling an end to the day’s competition.
The two races scheduled for the second half of day two will be rescheduled for another race day, which is a big win for Team NZ who were set to miss out on two races but now appear set to miss just one.
Day two results
American Magic beat Alinghi Red Bull Racing by 2min58sec
