Squadron Mainsheet #641

RNZYS Mainsheet Newsletter #641 - David Blakey Commodore

This week RNZYS Commodore David Blakey had the privilege of being invited aboard Taihoro as a guest racer on Monday, alongside Anna Wilcox from Sky TV’s The Crowd Goes Wild. The guest racer initiative is a new addition for the upcoming event, giving sponsors, media and guests a rare chance to experience an AC75 first-hand. With AC38 in Naples next year on the horizon, Taihoro is very much in build-up mode.

Here’s what he thought about the experience: Anna and I took turns on board, with Anna heading out first while I followed on a chase boat. We sailed between the East Coast Bays, Tiritiri Matangi and Rangitoto, running windward-leeward training courses as the team worked through manoeuvres and fine-tuned the J5 jib in a building breeze.

From the chase boat, the speed alone was striking. Even with 800 horsepower and speeds of 35-42 knots, it was a bumpy ride that struggled to keep up. We had to anticipate every tack and gybe just to stay in range - an early hint of just how fast Taihoro really is.

Stepping aboard was something else. You immediately appreciate the scale, sleek design and raw power of the boat. After being kitted out and guided into the guest cockpit behind port driver Seb Menzies, helmet on and comms connected (and a reminder of where the oxygen is just in case!), we were ready to go.

Within moments, the boat accelerated and lifted onto the foils. The sensation is extraordinary -suddenly you’re flying, skimming above the water with a smoothness that feels worlds apart from the chase boat. You quickly lose any real sense of speed, despite hitting up to 44 knots. Looking across at Steinlager 2 and Lion NZ beating to windward highlighted the contrast beautifully.

Tacks and gybes came thick and fast, each one precise and controlled. The boat felt completely “on rails”, with constant communication between the crew, Ray Davies on the chase boat, and Jo Aleh providing feedback.

After several runs, the team paused to review and reset before heading out again - a routine that will continue in the lead-up to AC38. Back on the chase boat, I found Anna had succumbed to seasickness - confirmation, perhaps, that foiling is a much more comfortable way to travel!

A huge thank you to Emirates Team New Zealand for an unforgettable experience. We’ll certainly be following their progress closely as AC38 approaches, with the first preliminary regatta in Cagliari not far away.