ETNZ has been sailing the AC45X boat they acquired from Luna Rossa. This boat has a mostly standard AC45 platform. Wheel steering has replaced the tiller. The photo shows a white structure where the center spine meets the main crossbeam. This probably houses hydraulics for wing and board control. Notice also the raised track for the self-tacking jib. To my eye, the beam looks wider than the standard one design AC45 – as if the standard tubular crossbeams had be replaced by longer ones. There are no cockpits and no grinding pedestals. We can be sure there are electrically powered hydraulics – for daggerboard and wing control. ETNZ has said they will launch a more highly modified AC45X test boat, possibly in March.
ETNZ does not list their sailing team roster but skipper and wing trimmer Glenn Ashby and tactician Ray Davies from the 2013 campaign are still with the team. Peter Burling has been helming. Burling’s crew in the 49er, Blair Tuke has also been aboard their AC45F in the AC World Series, where they top the leaderboard. The fifth member of the AC45F crew is Guy Endean. Endean, Tuke and Burling all sailed together and won the 2013 Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco.