America’s Cup: Team NZ confirm damage to AC75; light winds end day two of challenger series early

Team New Zealand have confirmed some structural damage to their AC75 Taihoro and a piece of the hull had to be cut out, with the team working “24 hours a day” to get the vessel back on the water.

Taihoro was damaged yesterday when being carried to its cradle by crane after the team’s lone race on the opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

The America’s Cup defender was quick to rule out a return to racing on day two of the double round-robin event – in which Team NZ do not accrue points – and has since assessed the extent of the damage and what their path forward looks like with repair work under way.

“There is some structural damage aft in the boat, but the main force was taken on the forward cradle splash,” Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton said.

”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. We are still unsure why the boat fell, and this is ongoing with the crane technicians.”

Team NZ were scheduled to compete in two races on the second day of the Louis Vuitton Cup this morning, against Ineos Britannia and Orient Express Racing Team – two teams who claimed wins on day one of the competition.

Although Team NZ were not on the water on day two, regatta regulations required races to start in order for the win to be awarded so Orient Express and Ineos Britannia were still going to have to successfully get across the starting line.

The light winds, however, meant Orient Express didn’t even get a chance to get onto the course.

There was plenty of waiting on the wind to pick up on day two of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Photo / Ricardo Pinto, America's Cup

Racing was abandoned on day two after the second race (Ineos Britannia’s free win over the Kiwis) as the wind failed to stay above the minimum limit of 6.5 knots.

Just like day one saw delays while the breeze was building, day two was perhaps even lighter as the one proper race that did get under way – American Magic against Alinghi Red Bull Racing – resulted in both teams spending time sailing in displacement mode.

It started with a mistake from Alinghi in the starting box when they dropped off their foils, gifting American Magic a handy lead off the starting line – the reverse of American Magic’s day-one loss to Ineos Britannia.

While the Americans also struggled to stay foiling, they were able to hold their lead and do enough to secure the win to get their first point on the board.

After Ineos Britannia successfully got over the starting line in their ghost race against Team NZ, race management opted to change the direction of the course in the hope of finding a more consistent breeze with Luna Rossa and American Magic waiting patiently to get to work.

It wasn’t to be, though, with race management calling an end to the day’s competition.

The two races scheduled for the second half of day two will instead begin day three, with Luna Rossa and American Magic kicking things off before Team NZ take on Orient Express.

It does, however, give Team NZ another night to work on getting Taihoro back in sailing condition. While they still might miss the race against the French, that is their only race scheduled for day three, as per the broadcast, and is one they would have missed today anyway had conditions been better.

Day two results

American Magic beat Alinghi Red Bull Racing by 2min58sec

Ineos Britannia beat Emirates Team New Zealand (retirement)

Louis Vuitton Cup standings

Ineos Britannia 1-0

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 1-0

American Magic 1-1

Orient Express Racing Team 1-1

Alinghi Red Bull Racing 0-2

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.