{"id":320262,"date":"2026-03-09T06:51:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T06:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/320262\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T06:51:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T06:51:22","slug":"etnz-ac75-launch-key-moments-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/320262\/","title":{"rendered":"ETNZ AC75 Launch: Key Moments to Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taihoro, the boat that carried the team to victory in Barcelona nearly 18 months ago was ready to be relifted back into the water this week as preparations begin for the 38th America\u2019s Cup in Naples in 2027. Unlike previous Cup cycles, however, the amount of time teams can spend sailing their AC75 is now tightly restricted.<\/p>\n

Between now and January 2027, Emirates Team New Zealand has just 45 sailing days available on the boat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re limited to 45 days sailing between now and next January, so every day has to count,\u201d said Emirates Team New Zealand core sailing team member Andy Maloney.<\/p>\n

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\n\"\"Andy Maloney. Image credit: ETNZ<\/p>\n

The restriction means sailing days must be chosen carefully. Rather than heading out regularly, the team is expected to focus on longer sessions in suitable weather so each outing delivers useful data and training time.<\/p>\n

First time on the AC75 for many sailors<\/p>\n

When the AC75 sails this week, it will also be the first time several members of the current squad have been aboard the boat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the team actually hasn\u2019t sailed on this boat yet,\u201d said helmsman and new ETNZ skipper Nathan Outteridge.<\/p>\n

\"\"Nathan Outteridge at the ETNZ Base in Auckland 9\/3\/26. Photo credit: Boating NZ<\/p>\n

In the months leading up to the relaunch, the sailing team has been training on the smaller AC40 class boat. While significantly smaller than the AC75, the AC40 shares the same foiling concept and control systems, making it a useful platform for learning roles and practising manoeuvres.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 40 is a great stepping stone before the 75,\u201d Maloney said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to train sailors in the same positions they\u2019ll have on the bigger boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The AC40 has also played an important role in introducing younger sailors to the programme.<\/p>\n

Maloney said the new additions to the team have adapted quickly to the highly technical environment of foiling race boats.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe young talent we\u2019ve brought into the team have impressed all of us with how quickly they pick things up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Adjusting after major team changes<\/p>\n

The relaunch also comes as the sailing group reshapes itself following several significant departures since the Barcelona campaign.<\/p>\n

Long-time helmsman Peter Burling has moved on, along with other experienced crew members, leaving the remaining sailors to take on expanded roles within the team.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

\"Gulfstream<\/p>\n

\n Gulfstream 800\n <\/p>\n

$55,000<\/p>\n

8.2m | Gulfstream 800. LOA 8.2m. Engines No. of Engines: 1; Engine Make: Volvo ADAQ31; Engine Year: 1994; Engine Hours: 1500; Fuel Type: Diesel; Drive Type: Stern Leg. 1 Cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a big change in the sailing team,\u201d Maloney said. \u201cIt means some of us with experience need to step up and take on different responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outteridge is now expected to play a central role in driving duties as the team begins building its sailing lineup for the next America\u2019s Cup cycle.<\/p>\n

Sailing days are now more valuable than ever<\/p>\n

With AC75 sailing time limited under the America\u2019s Cup protocol, the relaunch marks the start of a carefully managed training period.<\/p>\n

\"\"ETNZ let us in early to have a peak at the kiwi boat. It is the same vessel from Barcelona, enhanced. Photo credit: Boating NZ<\/p>\n

The first outings will allow the team to re-familiarise themselves with the boat, test systems, and begin working through different crew combinations as preparations for the next Cup defence continue.<\/p>\n

For some sailors, it will also be their first experience aboard the 75-foot foiling monohull, one of the fastest racing yachts ever built.<\/p>\n

For Emirates Team New Zealand, the next phase of the campaign has now begun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Taihoro, the boat that carried the team to victory in Barcelona nearly 18 months ago was ready to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":320263,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[143332,130463,121948,173180,111,43,139,69,142905],"class_list":["post-320262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-ac37","tag-ac38","tag-americas-cup","tag-etnz","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sailing-yacht"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/320263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}