PHOTOS – Team New Zealand launches new AC 75, few surprises (for now) and a few “secrets”

Those expecting fireworks were probably disappointed: the first “unveiling” of the defender Team New Zealand’s AC 75 took place without any special ceremony at the Auckland base, in the utmost secrecy.

At first glance, the boat does not present huge revolutions but it seems to confirm the impression we already had with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, teams do not want to risk too much by having only one boat available to build.

From the images we have available to us, the Kiwis seem to be doing among other things a little more pre-tactical, to keep something about the hull and deck concealed for a few more weeks, which is never shown at the moment.

AC 75 Team New Zealand, the first details

A boat that could be described as “skinny,” with a restrained V-shaped front section, perhaps even too skinny for those who expected a design “concerned” with handling the “touch and go” of the waves in Barcelona, a race course that promises to have significant medium swell.

AC 75 Team New Zealand – the hidden volumes.

Immediately behind the bow the volumes of the hull are hollowed out and the flat part soon begins, which continues practically all the way to the stern, which as we have seen in our in-depth discussions is functional in recreating the air cushion between hull and water.

There seems to be an area, just behind the bow, where the hull appears particularly hollowed out, almost a hint of a tunnel or at least a more curved shape, but the photos we have available seem to be deliberately taken with reflections that give bad glimpses. Or even a light matte patina appears to have been applied to disguise it.

Interesting to note how the center “keel,” looks rather fine and sharp, deep, this one designed to counter the Catalan wave and offer lateral resistance when the boat kisses the water. Chiglietta which, as in the case of Alinghi, continues all the way to the stern.

The foils shown are all in all unremarkable. Tight and long, evolution of the series that the Kiwis showed in the finals of the last America’s Cup, but between now and September, when the real races begin, there are bound to be some changes to the appendages, so judgment remains suspended.

Ultimately, while there remains some mystery about the shapes of the front of the hull, there were no major twists and turns with Team New Zealand’s new AC 75. Beware, however, because with only one boat at their disposal, teams may reserve tricks up their sleeves to show more nearer the races, when there will be less time to be copied by others. Reasonable to think that not all the potential of these boats is shown in these that remain only of the various technicians.

Mauro Giuffrè