America's Cup Storm...Volvo Ocean Race arrives in Auckland today

by . on 28 Feb 2015

February 25, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Mapfre. Day 17. A storm cloud that looks a lot like an atomic bomb - or was it the media eruption over Team New Zealand? Francisco Vignale/Mapfre/Volvo Ocean Race

Welcome to Sail-World.com’s New Zealand e-magazine for February 28, 2015

The Dean Barker/Team New Zealand volcano which had been periodically puffing smoke for a couple of weeks, erupted on Thursday with a media statement from the Team announcing that they were gearing up as of this Monday to prepare for the 35th America's Cup.

The situation of its now former skipper and long-time helmsman, Dean Barker was addressed from the Team's perspective.

It very quickly became apparent that Barker had a different perspective on the matter, and another field day ensued.

Emirates Team NZ CEO, Grant Dalton fielding media calls on Thursday afternoon © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Having been on a quiet boil for two weeks, it is hard to know whether to be surprised at the reaction of not. A quick flick around the dial, a few minutes after the email came through revealed that Team NZ was the lead story on all bulletins. It was the lead story on both prime time news channels and both Seven Sharp and Campbell Live. It dominated talkback radio - sport and otherwise - for the rest of the day and most of the next.

In no other country in the world would a change-out of an America's Cup skipper have made such headlines.

In fact, the story is close to the top of the all-time lists of sports news bombshells. Maybe it sits alongside All Black captain, Buck Shelford's abrupt dropping from the role and the team.

Oracle’s Presti says that by studying Emirates Team NZ’s performance in the first half of the Match, Oracle Team USA were able to effect change to help win the latter races in the 34th Match © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

The team's massive following is undeniable. Certainly in this country - Yachting - through the America's Cup is one of the top sports in terms of awareness, and this has spread across to Olympic sailing and other areas of the sport.

While New Zealand shakes its head at some of the bewildering moments in the Kiwi America's Cup saga - the position Team NZ occupies in the nation's psyche is the envy of other sailing countries.

We have some coverage of the latest turn of events in this edition.

Performance Coach Philippe Presti makes a point to Oracle Team USA’s tom Slingsby soon after they had lost another race to Emirates Team NZ © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

The role of Performance Coach is claimed by Team New Zealand to be vital to its 2017 America's Cup campaign. Those on the water for the San Francisco match would have been very aware, at the end of each race, of the rapid approach of the Performance Coach for Oracle Team USA, Philippe Presti - who often jumped quickly aboard the AC72 to make points very clear to individual crew members.

In this edition we have published an extract from an interview with Philippe Presti, run in Sailing World magazine, last September, in which he explains the role of the Performance Coach, and how Oracle Team USA was able to use his input to identify their shortcoming during the last America's Cup - and the improvements that could be made, as the team was given more time by the crazy wind limit system.

Oracle Team USA completes a tack in the development AC45 on San Francisco Bay in one of the team’s four AC45’s © John Navas

Of interest too is what the other teams are doing, and we have more video from San Francisco of the hookups between Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing in their development AC45s.

These are shot by videographer John Navas using a new high-resolution camera. The video has been loaded with a very high-resolution option - if you have the bandwidth that will cope.

For those used to watching America's Cup video, these show the tacking and gybing maneuvers very well.

The speeds being hit by the AC45's in foiling mode are comparable to what was achieved in the same sailing area in the AC72's - with one speed burst yesterday being reported at over 45kts by observers.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - Riding the front downdraft from a massive wall cloud, Ian Walker drives Azzam to windward around Dongfeng 4 nm away en route to Auckland - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 © Matt Knighton/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

The Volvo Ocean Race is expected to finish Leg 4 in Auckland today - quite when is uncertain. Our projections earlier in the week had them finishing around noon, however with light winds expected to dog the fleet for much of the remaining 100nm - a finish late this afternoon - even after dark is likely.

At the latest report, the boats were off Cape Brett with 100nm to sail and there had been a lead change. The leading three boats are very close together and will match race to the finish.

We have the link to the finish line video feed in this edition and will be updating the projected race finish time, as progress becomes known.

in this edition we have several stories with two of the three New Zealand sailors in the race - Ryan Houston and Dave Swete off Team Alvimedica - which has an interesting team make-up.

Ryan Houston tells us how all that works on board.

Dave Swete gives a rundown on the race, up until the start of Leg 4 from Sanya in China.

We spoke to Dave again on Thursday (the day before yesterday if you are reading this on Saturday) - he outlines how Leg 4 has been for the team. There has been a lot of highs and lows as teams have made good gains only to see them evaporate.

February 25, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Alvimedica. Day 17. The straight line drag-race to Auckland enters its first full day with the rich only getting richer at the front of the line--always sailing into the stronger winds first. Kiwis Ryan Houston (R) and Dave Swete (L) look ahead towards their home country of New Zealand. Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 © Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica

Surprisingly the boats have spent 80% of the leg on Port tack - which as he points out is very fortunate fro those on board, as that is the side on which the seacock for the toilet is located!

We also have coverage of OceanbridgeSail Auckland - that like the Volvo Ocean Racers has been plagued with light winds resulting in little racing.

Prepared for all weathers - Oceanbridge Sail Auckland - Day 2 © Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Don't miss the story from Doyle Sails on the design, construction and technology options for the new suit of sails for the One Ton Cup icon, Rainbow II, ahead of this week's One Ton Cup Revival regatta to be held in Auckland - which has attracted eight entries.

First sail - Rainbow II with her new inventory by Doyle Sails © Alan Sefton

Follow all the racing and developments in major and local events on www.sail-world.com, scroll to the bottom of the site, select New Zealand, and get all the latest news and updates from the sailing world.

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

sailworldnzl@gmail.com

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Don't forget to check our website www.sail-world.com, scroll to the bottom of the site, select New Zealand, and get all the latest news and updates from the sailing world.

Leg 4, Day 16 - Abu Dhabi ahead - - We were this close at sunrise. And then Azzam slammed us - Sam Greenfield. Dongfeng managed to pull back ahead though, by just 0.2nm - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 © Sam Greenfield/Dongfeng Race Team/Volvo Ocean Race

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sailworldcruising.com/131963

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