FROM SIM TO SEA SPRAY: UPSKILLING ON THE AC40
While anticipation builds among the team for Taihoro’s return to the Waitematā Harbour, the focus on the water is well and truly the next generation of Emirates Team New Zealand sailors who are already hard at work and firmly in control of the AC40s.
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The team’s AC40 programme has shifted into high-intensity training and upskilling mode. A focused series of training blocks are underway to identify the sailors who will represent the team in the Women’s America’s Cup. Additionally, spots are up for grabs on the second AC40 that will race in the 2026 Preliminary Regattas, the first of which kicks off in Sardinia on May 21, 2026. In this environment, every session on the water carries vital experience and real competitive value.
One familiar face on one helm is Erica Dawson, an Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 and a key figure in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup campaign in Barcelona. Set to return for the women’s team in Naples in 2027, Dawson brings first-hand high-performance racing experience and leadership to the squad as it takes shape.
Erica Dawson during the AC40 training session in Auckland.
“It is so good to finally get on the water, to just get the feeling of the boat, and to have a really good run of time out there,” Dawson said, after spending weeks building muscle memory in the Emirates Team New Zealand simulator.
For Erica, being back on the AC40 is familiar, but her role is not. “It’s really cool because I’m not trimming anymore, now I am helming. I really enjoy getting on the wheel. It’s a whole different ball game with a lot more to learn, but with the full sailing team integrated into our time on the water, we are learning as much as we can from them.”
The group of talented sailors gaining experience on the AC40s includes Serena Woodall, Stella Bilger, and Helena Sanderson, alongside Liv Mackay and Polly Powrie, both of whom were part of the Emirates Team New Zealand Women’s America’s Cup team in Barcelona. The programme is designed not only to assess different crew combinations and boat handling but also to sharpen communication and decision-making under pressure within a high-speed foiling environment.
Hands-on learning: Serena Woodall shares her experience from transitioning from "sim" to on-water.
The move from months of "sim" training to the real deal has been thrilling for all of the women’s squad. “To get on the AC40 is something I’ve been wanting to do for years,” explained Serena Woodall. “Things are just a little bit different than in the sim; you touch down, you’re sprayed with water, and it’s all a bit more real.”
For Helena Sanderson, the transition felt more natural than anticipated. “It feels a lot more like sailing than I was expecting. In the simulator, it’s all data-driven and locked into the numbers. But I’m happy with how it feels to be on the boat, just getting that wind over your face and a feel for how the boat sails.”
“It was wild! A total roller coaster,” added Stella Bilger, stepping off a spell trimming on the AC40. “I got Seb (Menzies) a little wet up at the front while he was helming, but it was so much fun just getting the hang of it and learning the tricks of the trade.”
Two-time Olympic medallist Polly Powrie, who served as the Women’s and Youth team manager in Barcelona 2024, is no stranger to the team environment. However, this block marks her first time actually sailing the AC40.
Polly Powrie is back for the Emirates Team New Zealand Women's America's Cup programme in Naples in 2027.
“Nothing compares to the sensation of actually flying on the water. It’s addictive!” said Powrie. “Being part of a team that’s so professional and capable, with the chance to learn and grow, is really exciting. Everyone is driven and gels exceptionally well.”
This development block has been a core focus for the wider Emirates Team New Zealand sailing and on-water operations teams. The objective is clear: build experience, sharpen skills, and strengthen the pathways for both the Women’s America’s Cup and the upcoming Preliminary Regattas.
“The preliminary events give all our sailors a real opportunity to get some good racing in,” said Erica Dawson. “I feel like we’ve got some good time to come together as a team after those events and the Women’s America’s Cup as well.”
All eyes now turn to Sardinia, where the first real measure of this hard work will come into focus on the racecourse off Cagliari. The Preliminary Regatta will deliver the earliest feedback on speed, dynamics, and performance under pressure. The countdown is on.
Stella Bilger, Serena Woodall, and Helena Sanderson.