Podcast Ep. 11 - The AC38 arms race has officially begun

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Almost 17 months since an AC75 last sailed, Emirates Team New Zealand have fired the first shot in the AC38 arms race.

But how far ahead are the Defenders really? And what do the challengers need to do to close the gap? In this episode, resident America's Cup obsessive Tom 'Mozzy' Morris joins Freddie Carr to break down everything we've learned so far from version three of the Kiwi machine.

Mozzy believes this protocol delivers fairer rules than ever before – no test boats, no AC40 loopholes, and a more level playing field across the challenger fleet. But Team New Zealand's head start on automation and control systems may prove decisive. Freddie reveals the moment during AC37 when he realised just how far ahead the Defenders were: while the British crew wrestled with boat handling, Pete Burling was simply chatting about wind shifts.

With Luna Rossa expected to launch soon and the challengers' window narrowing before the boats ship to Europe, the race is on. This is your essential briefing on the technology, the tactics, and the strategic battles ahead.

01:23 - Racing Dragons in Palma and M32s
07:53 - Mozzy analyses Team New Zealand's AC75
15:35 - Foil weights, sizes and new AC38 rules
22:08 - Automation, energy recovery and the fifth sailor
40:43 - Fleet racing returns to the America's Cup
46:58 - America's Cup personnel shifts and double agents
56:43 - 18ft skiffs and Olympic sailing updates