America's Cup Recon: Two teams sail AC75s half a world apart - June 12
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 14 Jun 13:21 BST
Luna Rossa - Sailing Day 2 - AC38 Recon - Luna Rossa Team - June 12, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia © Ivo Rovira / America's Cup
For the first time in the 38th America's Cup two teams sailed their AC75s on the same day.
That may seem a small step to some, but it is a big step up from just the Defender being the only one to be in a development phase, albeit in the Kiwi winter.
Friday was a big step up for the Italian Challenger, Luna Rossa, sailing from their home facilities in Cagliari, Sardinia and beginning what is expected to be the commissioning phase for the Italians.
They put the other five Challengers on notice that time is marching on, with the Challenger Selection Series due to start in late May, in Naples.
Of course, the Kiwis are a lap of the track ahead of the Challenging teams with 16 sailing days in their logbook, while the others, with the exception now of the Italians, are yet to start their AC75 sailing.
Of course, the standard Challenger response is that they are rebuilding and that their focus is on the 2029 America's Cup, given that the America's Cup Partnership requires signatories to commit to sailing in the 38th and 39th editions.
The exception is the home team, Luna Rossa, who, with a three-times America's Cup-winning skipper aboard, plus three other very talented helms to call upon, will be hard to beat - provided their design and performance team does its job, and can close down the Kiwis.
The two teams sailed in similar but different conditions today. The breeze strength was similar starting light for both, and building, with the breeze in Auckland being the stronger, topping out at 16kts. Both enjoyed a flat sea state and good foiling conditions.
Both teams spent most of their sailing time on smaller J3 and J4 jibs
The difference is that the Kiwis are sailing in their winter, with short days - getting dark around 5.30pm. The cold temperatures mean that there is no heat to drive a sea breeze. Often, when a high-pressure cell influences the Auckland weather, the breeze does not come in until late morning or early afternoon, so there is no point trying for an early start.
It's summertime in Cagliari, which means longer daylight, warmer temperatures and more predictable breezes. But interestingly, today both teams docked in around 1630hrs.
The Kiwis are well through their allowed quota of sailing days, having used 35% of their 45-day quota. Luna Rossa has just begun at just 4% of their 49-day sailing quota.
While the Kiwis are definitely on Struggle Street with the winter sailing conditions, they are also getting through a testing program - keeping the design team moving. Plus, they are getting data for the next (39th) America's Cup in three years, when they will have to design and build a new AC75.
It would seem that there is little difference between Sardinia and Auckland in winter.
The intriguing part of this America's Cup will be how the teams invest their sailing test-days quota, which applies for the first time ever, in this America's Cup.
Luna Rossa - Day 2, June 12, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia.
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Marco Gradoni/Ruggero Tita
- Starboard Helm: Peter Burling (NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Umberto Molineris (ITA)
- Starboard Trimmer: Vittorio Bissaro (ITA)
- Positions 5 & 6: Maria Giubilei ( Port) Gigi Ugolini (Stbd)
Wind & Sea Conditions:
Summary: .
1235hrs Wind: 190°: 9-10kts
11340hrs Wind: 165°: 11-13kts
11340hrs Wind: 180°: 10-12kts
PM Sea State: Flat
Dock Out: 1215hrs
Dock In: 1640hrs
Time sailed: 3.25hrs
Foiling time: 70mins
Recon Report – 12th June 2026
Targeting their first proper sailing session, Luna Rossa rolled out at 10:25 while the offshore Maestrale was still blowing. The hull appeared to have lost a significant amount of paint. Foil cameras were still in place, while white strips had been added to both flap elements. Another camera was noted on the hull just before transom section pointing downwards on rudder and elevator.
The boat splashed by 1115hrs, with dock-out scheduled for 1215hrs. Sailors check followed, including some minor cant movements combined with mast rotation.
Once docked out, the following crew was on board: on the port side, Marco Gradoni (helm), Umberto Molineris (trim), and Maria Giubilei (5th); and on the starboard side, Peter Burling (helm), Vittorio Bissaro (trim), and Gigi Ugolini (6th).
At 1220hrs the sea breeze had started to fill in, reaching 9–10 knots from 195°. The MN1-8 mainsail was paired with the J2-9 jib. After swinging the boat onto starboard tack, B3 self-take-off was achieved at approximately 16–17 knots boat speed. All five take-offs of the day were executed autonomously on starboard tack.
A recurring observation throughout the day, recorded in the footage, was the occasional and excessive immersion of the rudder during both downwind and upwind sailing, as well as during manoeuvres such as bear-aways and round-ups.
The first session focused on straight-line sailing and a limited number of manoeuvres. In terms of bulb-to-bulb transitions, approximately 9secs were recorded for gybes and 7secs for tacks. During gybes, LR occasionally appeared to struggle with the catch on board up command exiting the manoeuvre. Windward cant was used to balance the boat on certain modes in straightline.
As the sea breeze increased to 13 knots from 165°, the J2-9 was lowered and replaced by the J3-9. Despite the strengthening breeze, the sea state did not build significantly throughout the day and remained relatively flat.
The second session appeared to focus on manoeuvre execution, with tacks generally cleaner than gybes. During the third and fourth sessions, LR seemed to perform more aggressive bear-aways and round-ups, once again immersing the rudder excessively.
At 1530hrs, Marco Gradoni was replaced by Ruggero Tita on port helm, and the fifth session unfolded with the largest number of manoeuvres of the day.
The team docked in at 1640hrs, concluding their day with approximately 70 minutes of foiling time and around 40 manoeuvres, only a few of which resulted in touch-and-goes.
Emirates Team NZ - Day 16, June 12, 2026 - Auckland, New Zealand
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Seb Menzies (NZL)
- Starboard Helm: Nathan Outteridge (AUS/NZL)
- Port Trimmers: Iain Jensen (AUS)
- Starboard Trimmer: Andy Maloney (NZL)/Josh Armit (NZL)
- Positions 5 & 6: Jo Aleh (NZL), Josh Armit (NZL)
Wind & Sea Conditions:
Summary: Cold offshore breeze. Very light to start, building to 16kts by the end of the day.
AM Wind: 270°: 3-8kts
PM Wind: 270°: 12-16kts
AM Sea State: Flat
PM Sea State: Flat
Dock Out: 1058hrs
Dock In: 1620hrs
Time sailed: 5hrs
Recon Report – 12th June 2026
Key Points:
- Long tow test to Whangaparaoa
- High mileage day (190km)
- Constant drone presence.
Emirates Team New Zealand rolled out of the shed at their more usual time of 0915hrs this morning. Splashing down at 0946hrs and off the dock at 1058hrs. Consisting of their now usual crew of Outteridge, Menzies on helm, Maloney, Jensen trimming and Aleh in her usual 5th spot. Josh Armit rotated through various positions.
Starting the day with tow-testing their way along the coast down to Whangaparaoa. ETNZ was seen cycling through various ride heights and pitch at 25kts, 30kts and 35kts. Arriving at 1133hrs, a very light 3-4kts, 220° breeze awaited.
Hoisting their J3-3 jib, ETNZ towed up onto the foils and sailed downwind to Tiritiri Matangi Island, where the breeze was a stronger 8-10kts and the sea state was steadily building. The sailing consisted of very long legs, with ETNZ testing their ride height as low to the water as possible, sometimes resulting in some very minor splashdowns. Once again, the drone was a steady presence throughout. Session 1 ended at 1231hrs.
Session 2 started at 1244hrs in 8-10 knts, and consisted of more long tacks and gybes up to the North Shore and back down to Tiritiri Island. Session 2 ended at 1312hrs in a stronger 10-14 knots.
ETNZ changed to their J4-2 jib and started Session 3 in a steady 12-16 kts, with a decent sea state down near Tiritiri Island. A much flatter and slightly lighter conditions up near Rangitito Island. Long upwinds and downwinds, ending the session at 1411hrs with a practice start.
Session 4 started at 1423hrs and consisted of several practice starts. It ended at 1441hrs, at which point ETNZ changed their cameras on their starboard foil, including moving the smaller camera from the foil wing to the foil arm. Session 5 started soon after at 1458. ETNZ pushed the boat hard in this session, consistently bearing away and rounding up in a solid 14-16kts, in the flatter, gustier water up closer to Rangitoto Island. Session 5 ended at 1529hrs.
The final Session 6 started at 1539hrs and had ETNZ repeating similar manoeuvres on their way up the harbour before dropping sails at 1558hrs just off North Head.
Overall, a solid high-mileage day for ETNZ. Starting the day with a 25km tow test, then sailing long upwinds and downwinds, before ending with the team throwing the boat around in a diverse range of manoeuvres.
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