ETNZ flexes its muscles with diverse technology projects

ETNZ flexes its muscles with diverse technology

By Ivor Wilkins The breadth and diversity of projects undertaken by Emirates Team New Zealand following its successful America’s Cup defence 18 months ago has been graphically demonstrated in recent weeks, underscoring its capability as an advanced technology company.

Within two days of unwrapping the world’s first AC40 foiling monohull from China, the team was out on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour conducting tow-tests at 25-30 knots behind its recentlyunveiled prototype hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat.

Meanwhile, across in South Australia, a small group was assembling the team’s landyacht in preparation for a world landspeed record attempt on the desert saltflats of Lake Gairdner.

That’s three totally different and highly complex projects, embracing a variety of challenges and technologies all designed from scratch and brought to completion in an extremely tight timeframe.

In addition, there has been the task of writing a new rule for the AC40 as well as revising the AC75 Rule for the 37th America’s Cup, not

muscles technology projects

to mention progressing the design of a new generation AC75 for the Barcelona regatta in 2024.

“We’ve had a lot on,” concedes ETNZ design chief Dan Bernasconi. “We are now emerging from all those projects and finally back into full AC75 mode. We probably have a bit of catching up to do, because the other teams have been able to fully focus on their AC75 ever since the last Cup, but we are really excited to be pushing ahead with that now.”

Factor in the upheaval of a complete shift of the design, sailing and operations group from the city-owned premises they have occupied since winning the 2017 Cup to the base vacated by Ineos GBR Challenge after the 2021 regatta and “a lot on” hardly seems to cover it.

The AC40 will be used by all the America’s Cup teams as a training and development tool as well as competing in various World Series regattas in the run-up to 2024. Out of competition, AC teams can test experimental foils and sails, but in competition strict one-design rules will apply.

In addition, the AC40 fleet will be used for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup events during the Barcelona regatta. There are also moves afoot to open the class to private owners to set up a unique foiling monohull race circuit independent of the America’s Cup.

Despite its multipurpose brief, Bernasconi says there was no holding back in terms of design. “It is a no-holds-barred racing machine. We are putting everything out there with the best foiling 40-footer we could produce in terms of hull shape, foils, sails and control systems.

“It has been difficult for the designers to know that we are giving away some of our best work, which is obviously a big culture change – very different from what we are used to,” he adds. “At the same time, it is cool that we can design something that more people are going to use and see the benefit of.”

ETNZ Operations Manager Nick Burridge noted that some of the teams had expressed surprise at how much Intellectual Property the