Team NZ resumes preparation for wind powered land speed record

Team New Zealand has finally been able to get out on Lake Gairdner, in South Australia as it prepares for its bid on the wind powered land speed record.

Team New Zealand have built a 14m land yacht named Horonuku, that they hope can better better the 202.9kph record set in 2009.

Getting out on salt surface has been some time coming as they have had to delay their attempt after a prolonged wait for the lake to dry out.

There has been unprecedented surface water that has remained on the lake all year, only just drying out in recent weeks.

The first sail marked the first of many in the team’s bid to set a new benchmark, turning theory into practice, swapping simulations for salt, as the work to build up to the record speed begins in earnest.

Crew members set up Horonuku at Lake Gairdner in South Australia.
Photo: Supplied: Emirates Team New Zealand

“Its pretty surreal to be honest, it is not super windy today. Just an 8-10 knot breeze.” explained pilot Glenn Ashby.

“We just did a little tow to check in on the craft, to get a feel for the salt versus the last time we were on the runway at Whenuapai. So, to be here and to be into it is a dream come true.”

Horonuku was last run at Auckland’s Whenuapai Air Base back in May, and has since been transported to Australia, then trucked to Lake Gairdner, specially chosen as the flattest and fastest venue in Australasia suitable for the speeds Ashby will be aiming for.

“Our goal for our first day is just to put the craft back together again and implement some of the new rigging systems and techniques that have been designed for rigging the craft on the salt itself,” said Ashby.

Horonuku on Lake Gairdner.
Photo: Supplied: Emirates Team New Zealand

“In Auckland we had the luxury of forklifts and cranes to get set up but here we have to get the craft down to the lake and the rig in and upright without the use of cranes and forklifts. We wanted to do a test sail and get rolling to get a feel for the surface, and get it commissioned again.”

Over the next few weeks Emirates Team New Zealand will test everything from tyres, trim and traction, then it’s a matter of waiting for perfect conditions for a record attempt- wind, and lots of it.

-RNZ