Team NZ reveal next trick

Team New Zealand’s boat is impressive but its power source could be even more crucial to the defence of the America’s Cup.

Glenn Ashby, the man in charge of the giant sails, is talking up the developments, challenges and potential influences in his key department.

Team New Zealand had their mast in and out on Monday and eventually took the boat out on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour for a brief test under tow in some ugly weather conditions.

Ashby is eagerly waiting for when the sails can be raised to provide the true power for the radical 75-foot yacht.

These are huge pieces to work with – a 135-145sqm mainsail, a 90sqm jib, and 200sqm code zero for the light conditions – and allow plenty of scope in design that he insists will ultimately prove telling.

Ashby describes the mainsail, a revolutionary double-skinned ‘‘soft wingsail’’ rather than the rigid aircraft-like wing of the last two catamaran editions, as ‘‘impressive’’.

He should know. Ashby has his own sail loft and is an acknowledged guru in terms of getting the most out of the massive sheets.

‘‘The twin-skinned mainsail is definitely a huge step forward from a single membrane mainsail,’’ Ashby told Stuff.

‘‘Just the technology that has gone into the actual manufacturing of the sails themselves, that’s a huge leap forward there with materialtesting and also the testing of not only the front sails but the mains themselves.’’

With varied wind conditions expected in Auckland, there has been a tricky balancing act going on in terms of sail design for light and heavy winds, for upwind and downwind performance.

‘‘You really need to get those sails through a massive shape and power range. That alone for the designers has been a huge challenge and whoever does that well is going to put themselves in a great position,’’ Ashby said.

Ashby likes what has unfolded in the Team New Zealand sail loft and can’t wait to get his hands on his new toys.

‘‘That rig itself is going to be something that is going to be my baby, I guess, for the next couple of years. I just can’t wait to get it on the water. It’s been fantastic to have a look at it in the shed and coming all together. One thing is looking at it on a computer screen, but another thing will be looking at it as you burst down the Waitemata.’’

There will be an increased human factor this time too, after Ashby and his infamous handcontrol instrument proved decisive in Bermuda where Team New Zealand’s cycle-powered wingsail stood apart.

‘‘There will be some sort of control device on the yacht for sure,’’ Ashby revealed. Outspoken British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has brushed off troubles in his camp, vowing to ‘‘smoke’’ Joseph Parker in their London fight.

The two clash at the O2 Arena on October 26 and Chisora believes the bout could surpass his 2016 thriller with Dillian Whyte which ended in a split decision to Whyte.

‘‘I’m going to smoke that guy,’’ Chisora said of former WBO champion Parker when asked by IFL TV.

‘‘This fight is going to be buzzing. I’m going to go crazy, man.

‘‘If you watched me and Dillian in the first fight, you think that was a good fight, watch me and Parker. I am ready to go. I am ready to die in that ring. I want to go to town.’’

Chisora was interviewed relaxing in a limousine ahead of a London press conference where he delivered a tirade of abuse about his clash with Parker being an undercard fight to the world title bout between superlightweights Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis, in the final of the World Boxing Super Series.