Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
The AC45 on her mooring over night in Auckland. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
View from the Driver's Seat
by ORACLE Racing and America's Cup media
No sooner had Russell Coutts arrived in New Zealand than he was on the water. And it didn't take him long to exert 'executive privilege'.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Team skipper Jimmy Spithill, the ‘test pilot’ up until now, said it took his boss about five minutes before he wanted to steer: “It didn’t take long before he was on the helm,” he chuckled.
As for Coutts, he came away impressed: “It’s going to be great racing in these boats. They tack well, they manouevre well. They’re a pretty physical boat.”
Auckland Youth Sailor Joins Coutts on AC45 for Coutts' Birthday
Russell Coutts: his first sail of the AC45 was 27th January, and he took a youth sailor with him on Coutts' birthday, 2nd February. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Chris Steele, 18, of Auckland is a Laser and Moth sailor with his eye on the America’s Cup. And today he got his first taste of it.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Steele was welcomed on board the AC 45 today and before he knew it, four-time Cup winner Russell Coutts offered the young sailor the helm.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
“I was really lucky to get on the boat but I didn’t think I would get to steer it,” Steele said. “It was awesome and really fun. It’s a really nice boat to sail … I didn’t even realize how fast we were going.”
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
The AC 45 is a boat designed with youth in mind to provide younger sailors with a path to the America’s Cup. Steele makes no secret of his aspirations.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
“I want to make a living at sailing. I enjoy match racing so that’s a big factor at looking at the America’s Cup. Since I was 14 I wanted to go down the America’s Cup path.”
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Steele found his way onto the path through New Zealand top international sailor Mike “Moose” Sanderson. Steele was recruited by Sanderson to coach him in his new Moth. And Sanderson returned the favor by introducing him to Coutts.
“It’s really good for the youth guys,” Steele said. “Up until now, it was a real process to get into the Cup. With this it seems like they’re trying to develop the youth guys.”
The future of the Cup has arrived.
But, nothing in this life comes for free. After relinquishing the helm, Steele was given the task of grinding for wingsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder on the long sail back to base and no doubt found muscles he usually doesn't need on the Moth.
Also on board today and getting a few minutes on the helm was team design director Mike Drummond.
Murray Jones has a word with his son. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Murray Jones has a word with his son. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
And Joe Newton, an integral member of the 'crash test dummies' - the test pilots for the AC45 - found himself in an interesting new 'box seat' at the back of the boat. Peanut gallery? Cheap seats? Owner's box? You decide.
Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
Finally, the team has moved into new temporary offices, just across Halsey Street from the testing base - completing a day of the Halsey Street shuffle.
Discussion on board the AC45 between Spithill and Coutts. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
ORACLE Racing
America's Cup
