Team NZ stretch dual helming

Team New Zealand have developed their dual-helming capabilities beyond the starting zone as they maximise the bonus training time handed to them by the delayed start to the America’s Cup match.

Team New Zealand take on Luna Rossa in a best of 13 race series that won’t start until next Wednesday at the earliest with Auckland under level 3 restrictions amid another Covid-19 lockdown.

The Kiwis have been replicating the Italian approach of having a person on each wheel in the prestarts to negate Peter Burling having to switch sides during turns in the heated two minutes of the prestart.

But on Wednesday, Team New Zealand were taking that ploy further, sailing long distances without the crew changing sides during tacks or gybes.

Usually, they have Burling, wing trimmer Glenn Ashby and flight controller Blair Tuke swapping sides in a synchronised sequence, all via the front of the mast.

As Sail-world noted, the use of the ‘‘nolook’’ gybe, where the key crew doesn’t swap sides ahead of the move, was used by Team New Zealand during their 2017 America’s Cup triumph in Bermuda, successfully disguising their direction changes to their competitor.

Expect that to feature again as they defend the America’s Cup on home waters.

Team New Zealand appear to be doing this late in their training and development but an additional four days of preparation, because of the delayed start, has given them extra time to refine techniques and crew work on these technical boats that are now regularly pushing beyond 50 knots.

‘‘Every time we go out on the water we are learning new techniques and things you can and cannot do with the boats,’’ Ashby told Stuff.

He felt with both teams growing increasingly comfortable with the highpowered AC75S, action levels could rise, particularly in the prestart zone where Luna Rossa’s Jimmy Spithill is noted for his aggression and the defenders are looking for ways to counter that.