EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND – THE TEAM AT THE TOP OF THE AMERICA’S CUP WORLD

“People win the America’s Cup,” said Kevin Shoebridge, the Chief Operating Officer, as he accepted his induction into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Barcelona mid-Cup, and it’s an ethos that is engendered in this flat-structured team that is one of the highest performing sporting teams in world sport.

To document the journey to the 19^th October 2024 and the win in Barcelona, the start was at the precise time the last America’s Cup ended on the 17^th March 2022 with the official Notice of Challenge accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron from the British team representing the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.

The relationship between the two clubs and Emirates Team New Zealand was conducted in an air of positivity from the outset with the Defender determined to push forward a bold Protocol that fizzed with ideas, new approaches, new events and a vision that was inspired from the depths of the global Covid pandemic.

Almost immediately, in June 2021, Emirates Team New Zealand unveiled their plan for the new generation of hydrogen-powered support vessels and mandated their adoption for all teams entering the 37^th America’s Cup. The sailing world waited with bated breath for news around the Protocol and Class Rules that were published on the 16^th November 2021.

The step-change on for the third generation of AC75s was considerable with longer foils to promote flight in lighter winds, a crew reduction from 11 to 8, stipulations around number of hulls, foils and sails to reduce costs, supplied software, and further one-design elements around the control systems.

One of the most exciting elements of the Protocol was the introduction of a new class of foiling yacht – the AC40 – and further announcements that confirmed the re-introduction of the Youth America’s Cup and the start of one of the most exciting element of the 37^th America’s Cup -  the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup.

By the middle of December 2021, the first of the Challenger teams was announced by the Swiss, quickly followed by teams from Italy and the USA - later came an entry from France.

For Emirates Team New Zealand it was a time not to stand still and by the beginning of February 2022, the team announced first that their hydrogen support vessel was in final fit-out and that, in addition, the team had taken on the not insignificant challenge of trying to win the wind-powered land speed record with winning America’s Cup skipper Glenn Ashby set to be piloting the bid.

In the background, Emirates Team New Zealand confirmed their core sailing team with Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney and Josh Junior re-signing whilst the team scored a masterstroke in later hiring Nathan Outteridge as co-helm.

Speaking at the time of the announcement at the end of February 2022, Kevin Shoebridge said: “After the finish of the last America’s Cup we had an extensive and robust review of the winning campaign and how we can become stronger. Ultimately, all aspects of the organisation must improve if we are to be successful again in AC37 and collectively improving our sailing team as a unit is an important aspect of this.”

At the end of March 2022, the moment that everyone had waited for arrived with the announcement that Barcelona was set to be the venue for the 37^th America’s Cup. Speaking at the time, Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events commented:

“Barcelona really is one of the most recognised cities in the world so to have the ability to host the most recognised sailing event in the world is hugely exciting. As Defender of the America’s Cup, we have always felt the responsibility to grow the event, the audience, and the sport of sailing on a global scale and certainly having the event hosted in a significant city such as Barcelona will allow us to propel the growth trajectory on the global sporting stage. When thinking ahead to the 37th America’s Cup and the AC75’s racing within a few hundred metres of the Barcelona beach, waterfront, and race village fan engagement zones it will be nothing less than spectacular.”

March and April 2022 were busy times for Emirates Team New Zealand as first the hydrogen support vessel hit the waters in Auckland harbour for its first sea-trials whilst the boat-building team completed the ‘Project Landspeed’ shell that was christened in May 2022 ‘Horonuku’ before trials at an airfield and shipping to the salt flats of Lake Gairdner, South Australia.

Glenn Ashby and the team waited almost 7 months for the perfect weather window to set the record but on the 12^th December, it happened as ‘Horonuku’ sped past the record and set a new benchmark of 222.4 km/h before going on in 2023 to record 225.58 km/h on a blistering run.

The sailing team back in Auckland were chomping at the bit with the arrival in Auckland on the 12^th September 2022 of the world’s first AC40 and what was revealed was a scaled-down rocke- ship along similar lines to the 2021 Cup-winning boat ‘Te Rehutai.’ The boat underwent tow-testing in Auckland behind the hydrogen support vessel before a first sail on the 21 September 2022. It was the effective start of the training period for the 37^thAmerica’s Cup. 

Stepping ashore, Coach Ray Davies who had been on the maiden sail with Nathan Outteridge, Nick Burridge and Sam Meech beamed saying: “Day one was pretty epic and exciting. An amazing team effort to go out there and pull off the first tack as a foiling tack, the first gybe a foiling gybe. The boat is going really well, we have a few tweaks for sure, but awesome to sail with Nath, Sam and Nick. All of the support guys have done an incredible job, out of the box and we were ripping around foiling.”

With the AC40 programme up and running, a further Protocol addition saw every session captured under the auspices of the Joint Reconnaissance Programme – the first time in America’s Cup history that every session from every team would be documented and used to build up both technical data alongside media outreach. One of the first big ‘incidents’ captured was bow damage on the new AC40 at the end of November 2022 as the Kiwis drove the boat hard to the north of Waiheke Island in around 15-20 knots of windspeed and large waves.

The team, whose efficiency shoreside was a mark of their eventual success, were back on the water in December ahead of another step-change with the arrival in January 2023 of their second AC40 and the announcement in mid-February that ‘Te Rehutai’ would be back in action. The successful warhorse of AC36 was reconfigured and launched in March 2023, with the crucial addition of a ‘passenger pod’ that allowed for designers and sailmakers to get a real life feel of what the sailors experienced whilst training – it was an important and telling inclusion.

As the senior sailing team trained relentlessly, the Emirates Team New Zealand Youth & Women sailors were identified and began trials under the watchful eyes of Elise Beavis and Josh Junior and other senior members of the team, before selection was made. Crucially, the selected sailors fully integrated with the senior team doing shoreside roles where their aptitude and ‘team’ approach could be further assessed.

By mid-summer 2023, in June the team loaded up and shipped to Barcelona with ‘Te Rehutai’ taking flight at the venue for the America’s Cup in mid-July. Arriving fresh off the plane only days prior, Kevin Shoebridge said the support for the team and event was clear. 

“As we pulled Te Rehutai out of the shed to launch, there were a few people on their tip-toes getting photos of the boat over the base fence. Then, towing out to the racecourse area it was quite surreal because it was just over a year ago that Barcelona was named as the 37th Americas Cup venue, and just over a month or so ago we were sailing in Auckland. It just goes to show the strength of the team we have and the ability to get things done. But what we have done to date isn’t nearly enough to win the America’s Cup. There is still a massive amount to achieve in the next year- and especially in the next few months while we are here, including the first official racing in Vilanova i La Geltrú in precisely two months’ time.”

Those two months flew by with the team conducting AC40 trial racing against some of the Challengers in Barcelona for the Race Officials to test their software before the America’s Cup community de-camped to the pretty seaside resort of Vilanova i La Geltrú and the first Preliminary Regatta on the way to the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand were clear favourites by dint of time in the boat having sailed the very first AC40 in Auckland, but they were up against both world-class opposition and transitional summer/autumn weather that saw Mother Nature deliver testing conditions.

The team ultimately finished second to NYYC American Magic in that first regatta by just one point after an abandoned final due to lack of wind. For the Americans it was the shot in the arm they were seeking, for Emirates Team New Zealand it was a lesson.

Nathan Outteridge summed it up saying: “It was really frustrating. I thought we were sailing in general quite well and had two good starts to good races, but ultimately in the final fleet race we made an error in the gybe and fell off the foil and handed that win to American Magic. We did a good job to fight back into second place, but ultimately that was the one point they took to top the leader board which was the regatta after we couldn’t get the match-race in.”  

The team returned to Barcelona to continue training through a busy October that saw Louis Vuitton announced as title partner and a final blistering sail at the end of October in 'Te Rehutai' in conditions described as ‘fresh to frightening’ that had the whole Port Vell sit up and take notice.

It was a fine way to conclude their time in Barcelona as the team prepared for the second Preliminary Regatta, again in AC40s, in the Red Sea port of Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They returned to Auckland for a final tune-up on the Hauraki Gulf, noted for its intensity as the sailing team pushed themselves hard.

As they arrived in the dry heat of Jeddah, the Kiwis were met by a curveball thrown by Luna Rossa Pirelli who installed their next-generation helmsmen Marco Gradoni and Ruggero Tita for the regatta and it was a battle-Royale to the end.

Emirates Team New Zealand topped the leaderboard initially after some brilliant heavy-airs fleet racing and took that lead through the next day and into the final match-race. No mistakes this time, they dispatched the fast-sailing Italians after a brilliant 'duel in the desert' and raised the trophy high.

As the New Year dawned, Emirates Team New Zealand were in full-on mode balancing the build of their new AC75 under the design direction of Dan Bernasconi whilst activating the upcoming Barcelona event. Barely a week went by without sponsors being confirmed, schedules for the ‘Summer of Sailing in Barcelona’ being released, a fleet of Elliot 6 yachts being bought and installed for the RNZYS, the cyclor team taking to the velodrome and progress updates about the now-selected Youth & Women’s teams as they took to the water in the AC40 for the first time. The early months of 2024 were busy with the ultimate crescendo coming on the 11^th April.

What emerged from the build shed, in the form of ‘Taihoro’ was an angular design that heralded a significant step-on and refinement of Emirates team New Zealand’s all conquering ‘Te Rehutai.’

Geoff Senior, Head of Construction, said at the time: “The design team have certainly pushed the envelope with the design of 'Taihoro' which has tested our build team the whole way through. But we are so lucky to have such experience in our boat building team who are some of the best in the business. This is probably the 14^th Emirates Team New Zealand boat that some of them have built. In saying this, at the other end of the spectrum, we are really proud to have also had 10 boat building apprentices in the ranks that have been training throughout the build also.”

After a naming ceremony where the Iwi manaaki Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei gifted and blessed the name ‘Taihoro,’ the boat was launched at the Team's base in Auckland’s Wynyard Point, witnessed by friends, family, sponsors, and suppliers. Marama Royal, Chair of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, elaborated on the profound meaning behind the name ‘Taihoro’ which was inspired from Taihoro-Nukurangi, and translates to “To move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth.” She further explained: “Taihoro-Nukurangi captures the dynamic essence of the sea (Tai), the concept of speed (Horo), the earth's movement (Nuku), and the expanse of the sky (Rangi).”

What came next stunned the Cup world as the team conducted a quick tow-test before setting sails in the early evening and conducting the maiden flight of ‘Taihoro’ – straight out of the box, it was a marker of the deep proficiency of the shore and technical teams whilst complimenting the boat building team who had poured their hearts and souls into a highly technical construction.

The sailing team entered an intense period of commissioning, sailing 14 out of the coming 18 days from launch before ‘Taihoro’ was packed up and put on a ship for Barcelona whilst the senior sailing team, along with the Youth & Women teams, carried on with rapid-fire starting practice and final foil and systems testing in the team’s two AC40s – one in one-design mode, the other adapted as an LEQ12.

“We have had a bit of practice with logistics and shipping over the years but it is always very full on,” said Kevin Shoebridge. “It is a huge task for Andy Nottage logistically and the likes of Sean Regan and the wider shore team ensuring everything is packed securely and leaves in a precise order out the door for its subsequent arrival into Barcelona.”

‘Taihoro’ arrived in Barcelona on the 18^th June after a 28-day journey from New Zealand and was transported to the team’s base to begin the work-up to race ready with the final Preliminary Regatta just 60 days away.

As the Kiwis splashed in Barcelona, much interest was garnered from the Challenger teams who sent their photographers on a daily basis to capture recon images of every aspect of a boat they knew could well be the benchmark for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup.

When the final Preliminary Regatta started in Barcelona on the 23^rd August, those suspicions were confirmed as Emirates Team New Zealand began with wins over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, INEOS Britannia and ‘Taihoro’s’ sister-ship of Orient Express Racing – the French team having bought a design package from the team.

A win against Alinghi Red Bull Racing put the Kiwis into the match-race final the following day where they succumbed to their first defeat, in shifting conditions, against NYYC American Magic. Unabashed by the loss, the team won the match-race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to take the final win with skipper Peter Burling saying:

“It definitely wasn't our prettiest work, we made it pretty hard for ourselves but absolutely stoked to walk away with that one because if you can make that many mistakes and still win a yacht race. It's been a bit of a tough day for us to be honest with that first race against American Magic but really happy to take the win.”

The regatta period quickly shifted to the two Round Robins of the Louis Vuitton Cup – the Challenger Selection Series – that Emirates Team New Zealand were allowed to compete in through mutual agreement with the Challenger of Record. Although the team’s points were counted, matches against the Challengers did not affect their scoreline.

However, near-disaster was about to strike the team – one that could have effectively ended their campaign. After a brilliant race win against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on the first day of racing on the 30^th August, as ‘Taihoro’ was being craned ashore, a crane malfunction saw the yacht being dropped onto its cradle from a height of some 6 metres, causing damage as the team’s CEO, Grant Dalton confirmed:

“We have assessed the damage and have now started the repair, this will continue 24 hours a day. There is some structural damage aft in the boat, but the main force was taken on the forward cradle splash. Overnight this area has been removed (in other words we have cut the piece out of the hull bottom) and the repair has started which means building a new piece of boat. It is too early at this stage to say when we will be sailing again but I have seen these guys work miracles before.”

Boat-building miracles indeed were performed under the direction of Sean Regan as the shore team worked through the night in a co-ordinated manner. It was classic Emirates Team New Zealand with everyone pulling together in adversity so that by the 1^st September, just two days later, the AC75 was back on the racecourse and although sailing an uncontested race around the track, looked as good as ever.

As the Round Robins proceeded over two four-day periods, Emirates Team New Zealand excelled through a wide variety of conditions and despite taking some losses, most notably to Luna Rossa in a race affected by a thunderbolt lightning strike, the Kiwis stepped aside ahead of the Semi-Final stage, as victors, topping the standings and entered full preparation mode for their defence of the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup.

As the senior sailing team prepared on the racecourse in between races as the Louis Vuitton Cup progressed, it was the turn of the Emirates Team New Zealand Youth & Women’s teams in their respective regattas. For the Youth team it was a hard experience. At times exceptional, they came up against well-drilled teams from Italy, America and Britain before succumbing to a last race elimination, needing to beat the British to secure their path forward. It was a tough lesson in the importance of accuracy and execution but Leonard Takahashi, Seb Menzies, Oscar Gunn and Josh Armit fought to the end.

For the Women’s Team, again they met fierce competition but consistency and sheer talent paid with Jo Aleh, Liv Mackay, Molly Meech, and Gemma Jones never saying-die and making it through to qualification for the Semi-Finals after a last race masterclass. Ultimately Emirates Team New Zealand’s Women’s Team finished fourth in testing conditions and left the competition with smiles for miles and huge experience gained.

With INEOS Britannia winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, the scene was set for the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup Match where Emirates Team New Zealand applied maximum pressure from the very start and hit levels of outright sailing, boat-positioning and wind-reading that were extraordinary.

The Kiwis streaked into a 4-0 lead over three days of racing with many pundits and spectators predicting a whitewash. That didn’t happen as INEOS Britannia fought back in swell conditions on the 17^th October to take two wins before a Reserve Day that built tension around the Port Vell.

However, what came next was a three-race tear over two days where again wind-whispering skills and beautiful boat-handling secured the team’s defence of the Louis Vuitton 37^th America’s Cup.

Pure elation and relief engulfed the team with Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, and Pietro Beccari, the Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, awarding the 173-year old America's Cup trophy on a glitter, smoke and champagne sprayed main stage at the Race Village.

Peter Burling, the winning skipper commented immediately after, saying: "Just incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. The America's Cup has got to be one of the hardest sporting trophies in the world to win. You’ve got to have so many parts come together to make it all work and now having done that three times in a row, it’s incredibly special.”

Emirates Team New Zealand made history in Barcelona whilst delivering a summer of sailing that was remarkable, foresightful and absorbing. Against a stunning cityscape backdrop we saw the finest professional sailors going head-to-head in the AC75s fused with the next-generation of sailing’s superstars across the Youth and Women events in the AC40.

We also saw the America’s Cup boats of old in the form of the J Class and the 12-Metres plus we saw a record number of 350 Patí Catala’s come to close out the final weekend. It truly was a summer of sailing to remember but the stand-out performers were Emirates Team New Zealand who achieved at the very highest level of the sport and won an unprecedented third America’s Cup.

Iain Murray, Race Director, described the team as “one of the greatest Defenders that the America's Cup has ever seen,” and in Barcelona in 2024, they proved it again.

Emirates Team New Zealand, from top to bottom, were a class apart. The Challengers may be getting closer, but the Kiwis set the bar high and will be looking to continue setting it higher going forward.

(Magnus Wheatley)