America’s Cup: how the New Zealand team is passing the final countdown

The New Zealand team is bouncing between days in the shed and days in the water trying out new ideas, with one week to go until the final America’s Cup match with Italy’s Luna Rossa.

Both defender and challenger were in the water on Friday afternoon, and Te Rehutai of the New Zealand team returned to the shed on Saturday for further adjustments.

“Definitely the boat is progressing a little better, every time we go out we are always learning and developing, so hopefully we will keep pushing and get faster and faster,” said Master Joe Sullivan Things.

The two teams keep their distance, with the New Zealand team passing Friday on the north coast while Luna Rossa was a distant blob on the horizon further east.

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In the world of genuine America’s Cup innovation, mixed with mind games, Sullivan was obviously not revealing what had been proven.

Sullivan switched to the New Zealand team after retiring from a race for the Olympic gold medal and world rowing championship, so he did not admit to being nervous with the first race only a week away.

“I don’t get too stressed out. I’ve been in this situation before, it’s just a good opportunity to put the boat on the racing circuit,” he said of the training session and continued development.

He’s had big moments before, especially at the 2012 London Olympics, where he and his doubles scull partner Nathan Cohen forged last with 1,500 meters to go, fourth with 500 meters to go, but took the gold.

Sullivan joined the team for the cup-winning Bermuda campaign in 2017, where the New Zealand team had to fight their way through the series of challenges before reaching the final against the Oracle team of the USA.

“It is definitely much more unknown to be the defender, you can see the other boats competing and you think you have an indicator of what they are doing, but it will not be until we line up on March 6, when we really understand what they are and how we are. doing, ”he said.

In the rapidly developing life span of AC75 foil monohulls, Sullivan said the length of days in the water is now shorter than before.

“For us (the mills) we are on the boat for an hour and a half or two hours before we have a chance to change.”

And there are really no last minute nerves about what could happen in the first meeting with the Italians?

“Always waiting for the first day,” he replied.