New Zealand Team AC40: Confirmed world speed record with 50.7 knots (94 km/h)

Auckland (New Zealand), May 26. Emirates Team New Zealand, the defending champions at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona 2024, has officially confirmed the speed record of 50.7 days on the 23rd with its LEQ12-AC40 (11.80m foiled practice monohull). (93.9 km/h) and was initially set to 56 knots (103.8 km/h), due to an electronic measurement error on board.

This was explained by Blair Duke, flight controller of the AC40 of the day, with Nathan Outteridge and Peter Burling on board as captains (helmsmen) and Andy Maloney and Duke as wing sail trimmers and flight controllers.

The record was achieved at Rangitoto Island (Auckland Bay) at 23°C with winds of 12–18 knots (22–34 km/h) from the southwest and flat seas.

AC40 tested one of their new foils and initially had difficulty keeping control, but they were able to improve it to new speeds.

The New Zealanders had already achieved the speed record on April 28 with their first generation AC75 (a 22.90 meter long monohull with ‘foils’) ‘The Rehutai’ (Sea Breeze), which they won the 36th America’s Cup in 2021. at 55 knots (101.9 km/h).

On the other hand, yesterday Thursday, Team New Zealand practiced for the first time with two of its AC40s: AC40-LEQ12 and AC40 One Design, which will compete in the preliminary regattas of the 37th America’s Cup.

‘Match Race’ (boat against boat) training with the LEQ12-AC40, co-hosted by Josh Jr and 24-year-old Leo Takahashi, could captain the New Zealand team for the Young America’s Cup. Barcelona., ahead of AC40-OD, with Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge as helmsmen. It should be noted that Josh Jr is responsible for the training program of the New Zealand youth and women’s team.

Meanwhile, everything is already being prepared to send the AC75 ‘Te Rehutai’ and the New Zealand team’s AC40 One Desing to Barcelona, ​​which will compete in Barcelona from July 1 to October 31. Villanova Preliminary Regattas. I La Geldru (Barcelona) in September and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in November. EFE.

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