America’s Cup: Emirates Team NZ restarts AC75 development program
by ETNZ Recon Team 6 Oct 08:14 EST


Emirates Team New Zealand – October 6, 2026 – Auckland © Sam Thom/America’s Cup


Recon Report – 06th October 2026


Key Points:


Choppy/Messy sea state.
Cold easterly.
First day of new training block.


First day of the spring training block for ETNZ as they rolled out of the shed at 0925hrs. Attached was the short rudder seen at the end of the last training block. ETNZ was also seen with several new test stripes painted on the inner foil wings and arm.


This along with the foil cameras being mounted only on the inner wings suggest an area of testing focus for the day. Splashing down at 1003, there was considerable time spent by the team on the rudder tower and jib traveler system. This was explained by Seb Menzies in the interview as part of the commissioning process of new modifications. The crew consisted of Outteridge, Menzies, Maloney, Jensen, Aleh, Armit.


ETNZ were off the dock at 1100 and off the tow under Motuihe Island at 1132. Hoisting their M2-0 main and J3-1 they started sailing at 1201 in a cold 12-17 knot easterly. The wave state was a surprisingly sharp, steep chop, that varied considerably in the channel versus further up into the shelter of Waiheke Island. After one up and down, ETNZ stopped at 1219 to adjust the jib tack before once again sailing at 1232. The session ended at 1251 and consisted mostly of straight line testing. It was interesting that ETNZ was on the J3-1 version of their J3 today, where previous training block was mostly spent on the J3-3.


The second session started at 1302 and consisted of more straight line testing followed by a couple of runs with more tacking and gybing. It looked like ETNZ were keeping the board down longer in the gybes and gliding for longer before raising the board at a rate which kept heel steady. There also seemed to be a bit of testing in the range of boat pitch. ETNZ ended the session by sailing around to the northern side of Waiheke where they stopped. Switching the foil cameras in their break.


At 1404 the next session started in a much lighter 10-14 knots. ETNZ spent the whole time throwing the boat through progressively more aggressive figure of 8s. There was no simulated restarts but rather a structured testing of the boat through these manoeuvres at what would be the bottom end of the wind range for the J3. By the time the session ended at 1430 the wind had dropped significantly to around 7-10 knots.


ETNZ then changed to their J2-1 and started sailing at 1425. Once again it is interesting ETNZ went with their J2-1 instead of their usual j2-2. Also despite the light wind the sea state remained, being short but steep and from a mixed direction. This creating challenging conditions for ETNZ to push their ride height without splashing the hull. At 1508 ETNZ had a short break before continuing sailing at 1517 with a long sail down the north side of Rangitoto Island down to Takapuna Beach, where the sea state was much flatter. Before ending their day off of North Head at 1553. Back at the dock at 1625.


Overall a solid first day of this spring training block. Making the most of reasonably strong morning breeze that steadily eased throughout the day. A strong day of testing runs with no organised prestart practices and no VIPs.