America's Cup: AC45 ticks all the boxes on just her second day out

5:26 AM Wed 19 Jan 2011 GMT

'The AC45 prototype smokes up the Waitemata sailing at over 15kts in a 20kt breeze.' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Sail-World was very privileged to get a look at the new AC45 sailing on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, in conditions that were testing - a 20kts SW breeze, gusting to 26kts. It was very hard, or impossible to find fault with the AC45, which turned in a remarkable performance by any standard and particularly for a multihull. She exhibited excellent speed up and downwind - hitting 13-16kts upwind and 27-30kts downwind. The sailing angles were very good - comparable with a keelboat, maybe not up at the angles of an AC Version 5 - noted for their closewindedness. ...

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by Richard Gladwell