36th America’s Cup winning boat “Te Rehutai” sails back to New Zealand

He The team’s AC75 left the hangar on Monday After a long hibernation, a series of rigging and docking tests must be carried out, mixing old and new. Visually it has a new livery and technically provides a valuable bridge between the AC75 class rules of the 36th and 37th America’s Cup.

Nick Burridge, head of equipment reliability and maintenance, said: “Dee Rehudai won us the Copa America, so it’s a great day for the team.” .

“The boat has been upgraded to accommodate the recent rule changes. So we’ll have to tweak the rig a little bit, tinker with some geometry before putting it in the water, do a bunch of tests and stuff to make sure it goes. Be safe.” .

There will no doubt be a lot of questions and speculation from casual observers and groups watching JRP as to what exactly has changed. Many of them go unanswered.

But one of the most obvious changes since Te Rehutai’s last trip was the installation of bikes as a power source, replacing the AC36’s old grinding pedestals.

Cyclists Emirates team is New Zealand They were instrumental in implementing systems that would enable the AC75 to run with 3 fewer crew members than used in the 36th America’s Cup.

“It’s no secret that most, if not all, teams are cycling the AC75 designs for Barcelona” Cyclist Simon van Veldhoven said.

“We have some experience with cycling since the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda, but that was 6 years ago now, so we are working closely with the designers to create the most efficient systems possible. However, this does not change the fact that as cyclists we have to push ourselves to the max every time we get on board, But it will be a welcome change from the long hours we spend on the stationary bike in the gym every week, so we can’t wait to get back to racing.” .

For Emirates Team New Zealand, focusing on tuning its AC40s, a two-boat test block and a simulated race, getting back out with the “big boat” is another step forward for the team. Short calendar towards Barcelona in 2024.

“It’s a change of mindset and an improvement for everyone.” The ship’s captain, Spencer Loxton, explained. “It’s a big ship compared to the ships we’ve had so far, and it’s a lot of work for everyone. This is the next phase of the campaign, so it’s important to focus and pay attention to the details to get it right. “Our testing period.”

Emirates Team New Zealand Director of Operations Kevin Shoebridge explained the scale of the work to re-sailing Te Rehutai: “As always, getting Te Rehutai back on the water has been a shadow team effort. From the team of boat builders at our production facility, who have been quietly undergoing refits over the past few months, to our designers and engineers. As usual, those who push design to the limit, and of course the ground crew, who work tirelessly to meet such critical deadlines. , something this team can be proud of one minute and the next few times.

Te Rehutai will be the third AC75 to return to the water for Copa America’s 37th campaign, following Alinghi in Barcelona and American Magic in Pensacola.