Team NZ’s brilliant Am Cup reply

ANALYSIS: Team New Zealand produced a brilliant counterpunch in their early heavyweight rivalry with American Magic.

It’s been another week of fascinating sparring between the Kiwis and the New York Yacht Club as the 2021 edition of the America’s Cup gets increasingly real.

American Magic’s new AC75 was officially christened Defiant and launched in Rhode Island last weekend, a mix of blue blazers and salty t-shirts in the crowd.

The challengers chose that moment to release the first video footage of the revolutionary monohull design in place for this Cup cycle foiling.

That came a few days after they cheekily released a still image of their boat up on their foils while Team New Zealand were struggling with mast issues as they got Te Aihe’s hull wet for the first time.

When the Dolphin eventually emerged from the Team New Zealand shed for testing again on Wednesday, the defenders didn’t mess around, quietly working through some more teething issues with the mast before setting sail for the first time – and getting up on foils almost instantly.

No need for a test boat like their rivals had previously used for development. The feel the Team New Zealand sailing crew had gained from their simulator work was immediately replicated on – make that above – the water.

There was some applause from those witnessing this crucial moment, the usual sort of low-key approach that characterises Team New Zealand.

But they will be quietly delighted with this initial sail, getting the boat up in relatively light conditions and ticking off a the first items on what is massive checklist for a craft that is pushing the boundaries of yachting technology.

The race is really on now and Team New Zealand and American Magic have stolen a bit of a march on the other syndicates who have been forced into surveillance mode.

The boats of Luna Rossa, INEOS Team UK are still to be launched and Californian syndicate Stars + Stripes is the real the straggler in the fleet with still no hint of when their AC75 will be completed.

As always, there are serious financials involved in this game. But time is a commodity no money can buy and hitting the water early is a deposit that should produce early dividends.

The urgency now involves collecting data off the first editions of these boats to make improvements for the second generation AC75s that will sail for the Prada Cup challenger title and the America’s Cup match in about 18 months.

As unbelievable as it seems, the design and build of the second boats is imminent with the paint on the first boats barely dry and some not even in the water.

What has added to the early fascination is the confirmation that the freedom in the design rules has produced two boats with major differences in hull shapes and sail approaches. The evolution from here will be intense. How far can things be pushed?

For now, it’s up to the sailors. We wait to see evidence of the first foiling tack, the first foiling gybe and the first team to break the 50 knot barrier. There’s nothing to suggest the ‘‘dry laps’’ that were so crucial to success on the foiling catamarans in Bermuda won’t be repeated in Auckland.

That quest is well and truly under way. Team New Zealand were back on the water on yesterday looking to push even harder.

Doing all this in their home conditions, gives them an advantage that even the New York Yacht Club can’t replicate – for now.