Taihoro, the AC75 that delivered victory in Barcelona nearly 18 months ago, is being lowered back into the water this week as Emirates Team New Zealand turns its attention to the 38th America's Cup, scheduled for Naples in 2027. The relaunch comes with an unusual constraint attached: the amount of time any team may spend sailing its AC75 is now strictly capped under the America's Cup protocol.
Between now and January 2027, the team has just 45 sailing days available on Taihoro.
"We're limited to 45 days sailing between now and next January, so every day has to count," said Emirates Team New Zealand core sailing team member Andy Maloney.
That restriction shapes how the team will approach the coming months. Rather than heading out on a regular schedule, the squad is expected to prioritise longer sessions timed to favourable conditions, ensuring each outing delivers useful data and productive training time.
A number of sailors in the current squad will be stepping aboard an AC75 for the first time when Taihoro hits the water this week.
"Most of the team actually hasn't sailed on this boat yet," said helmsman and new ETNZ skipper Nathan Outteridge.
In the lead-up to Taihoro returning to the water, the sailing group has been training on the smaller AC40. Though far less imposing than the 75-foot foiling monohull, the AC40 shares the same foiling concept and control systems, giving sailors a useful platform on which to learn their roles and refine their manoeuvres before stepping up.
"The 40 is a great stepping stone before the 75," Maloney said. "We've been able to train sailors in the same positions they'll have on the bigger boat."
The AC40 programme has also served as an entry point for younger sailors being introduced to the team. Maloney noted that the new additions have taken to the highly technical demands of foiling race boats quickly.
"The young talent we've brought into the team have impressed all of us with how quickly they pick things up," he said.
The relaunch follows a period of change within the sailing group. Several experienced crew members departed after the Barcelona campaign, among them long-time helmsman Peter Burling, leaving those who remain to take on expanded responsibilities.
"We've had a big change in the sailing team," Maloney said. "It means some of us with experience need to step up and take on different responsibilities."
Outteridge is now expected to play a central role in driving duties as the team works to build its racing lineup ahead of the next Cup defence.
The first sessions back on the water will allow the team to reacquaint themselves with Taihoro after its time ashore, verify systems, and work through crew combinations as preparations continue. For several on board, it will also be their first time aboard one of the fastest racing yachts ever built.
With 45 sailing days to work with between now and January 2027, Emirates Team New Zealand's next campaign phase is underway.
