Losing in the quarter finals was never part of the British plan for the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Auckland. Yet the teams early exit from the regatta has meant that it can spend a few days testing its new Juan Kouyoumdjian designed TP52 before she is put on a ship for Europe.

The new boat was built in New Zealand by Salthouse boats and was only launched a few days ago. With the first event in the Audi Medcup series starting in Cascais, Portugal on 10th May, being able to sail the boat before she left for Europe was always going to be tight.

Yachting World will be at the Cascais event and reporting from the weather rail of the Brit’s new TP52. But if you’re wondering why a team with America’s Cup aspirations is getting involved in the TP52 circuit, keep an eye out for the May issue of YW (on sale 8 April) in which I take a detailed look at how the team operates and where the new boat fits in.