Inside America's Cup Espionage: AC legend and ETNZ spymaster Ray Davies

First instalment of 'Closer to the Cup' we are introduced to the world of America's Cup spying by Ray Davies, ETNZ's Spy Chief (recon rep).
We hear about the new setup for America's Cup reconnaissance, how the teams operated in the past, how the data is dealt with by Team New Zealand and how this could help increase engagement through the cup cycle.
0:00 - Intro
3:30 - Background to recon changes
6:55 - Safety issues
7:53 - Will joint recon help or hinder ETNZ?
13:30 - Does joint recon favour weak teams or hamper stronger teams?
16:00 - How does the recon data for AC37 differ to AC36?
18:48 - How does the information pass to the team? Can it become distracting?
22:49 - Improvement in efficiency of time of water with AC40s
24:10 - AC40s and recon video as a tool to upskill youth
25:30 - Where to focus recon attention
Recon video and photos credit to Recon Photographer / @America's Cup
Video on first foiling from @EmiratesTeamNZ: • The Untold Story of th...
Athena Pathway video from: • Introducing the Athena...
#MozzySails supported by @Allen Brothers (fittings) Ltd www.allenbrothers.co.uk/
#AmericasCup #AC37Recon #AC37

[@daverolstone5669]

What an accolade getting your previous coverage of the AC recognised, well done. Look forward to your analysis of the next round though it’s going to be a lot of work for you. Thanks, Dave

[@charlestoast4051]

yes, it started out like a love fest!

[@nickprince7971]

How exciting was that! This shared recon format certainly gives so much more interest. I am really pleased they recognised your take on the AC. The plaudits are well deserved.

[@samc.6639]

Super cool to see Ray commend Mozzy on his coverage and analysis from the last cup. Was definitely my go to for analysis during AC36. Keep up the awesome work Mozzy!

[@ikerstges]

Thank you Mozzy, you bring the appetisers early! Less 'fuelburn' with the joint recon is a great aspect and it'll be great for us to see how the teams prepare and then how they fare!

[@michaelhowell8412]

Your tireless work during the last AC hasn't gone unnoticed! Congratulations and eagerly awaiting more of your content

[@Boatworks]

Shared recon is an amazing innovation. It’s a great way to expand the level of trickle down from the AC teams’ R&D spend - for the advancement of our sport.

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

ETNZ are great custodians of the cup. I doubt if other teams would have been this open to share the data.

[@beezergood]

All teams are sharing data equally, ETNZ aren’t sharing anything that anyone else isn’t. Great idea by them to start this though and get all the teams to agree and buy in.

[@SuperReasonable]

Agree with that, but it’s also vital for ETNZ through spending tax payers money, to not be so much better that the cup becomes the procession it was during the majority of the last century. What I really admire is that the Kiwi’s are happy to share to improve their own capabilities. The ultimate challenge to everyone is to say “regardless of us sharing information, by stretching ourselves we still believe we can do better than the rest”

[@TheUltimateWriterNZ]

@@beezergood you don’t read very well do you?

[@TheUltimateWriterNZ]

@@beezergood either that or you’re just a prick for zero reason. No one said ETNZ are sharing more, no one at all. Please try contain your hate to things that are actually being said - I know it’s hard for you.

[@beezergood]

@@TheUltimateWriterNZ I see by your handle that you have a high opinion of your writing. My reading is fine thanks.

[@skonandr]

Ray is one of my favourite sailors! Good job interviewing him. I used to chat with him off season before 2017. I am so happy he stayed with the best team.

[@jonathanpaotama124]

I’ve watched all your video’s mate! As a ETNZ supporter I know the we will still have a few trick up our selves haha but it’s been awesome to hear from you and your prospective and congratulations with such a high profile interview

[@itsrbw]

Nice Tom, recognition doesn't come much higher than this. Looking forward to your content.

[@thomasv.s.2826]

Time and again: super high quality content!! 👍👍👍👍

[@btoogood]

I was thinking during the last cup “I wonder if the teams watching this, they should be” Turns out they were, well done. This channel took watching the cup to a different level- so looking forward to watching the next one with my mozzysails cheat notes ( although this time I’ve got the rough end of the pineapple when it comes to time zones :(

[@MozzySails]

ha, turns out they watch!

[@btoogood]

@@MozzySails thanks mate, you really made lockdown here in Melbourne bearable at the time.

[@ilca_sailor]

Fantastic interview Mozzy. Can't wait to watch your first proper episode of analysis from the recon data.

[@MozzySails]

Lots more to come... scratching the surface so far!

[@MikStorer]

This scheme for shared recon is actually beautiful. Instead of a sense of spying or cheating ... it becomes an agreement for a shared resource for all teams. This is just brilliant. Lets professional sailors and designers do what they really do - sift through data, test ideas and make decisions based on that. Even better that Mozzie gets the feed.

[@benjaminweslake4174]

Super stoked for you and your invitation to the Joint Recon Program. I wasn't the only one who valued your content, ETNZ did too! Your ability to filter and distil the information is what got you here and that same nous is what I'm looking forward to with the Joint Recon Data you present. Congratulations and well done once again. This cup cycle is already shaping up to be one of my favourites.

[@MozzySails]

Thanks Benjamin!

[@jeffcondell]

Hats off Mozzy, you can't get a higher accolade than that!

[@MozzySails]

It's weird to hear the teams listened so much, but also makes me want to step it up for AC37

[@chrismartin5870]

Thank you mozzy for this. Best geekery for ac fans on the net!

[@MozzySails]

My pleasure!

[@BruceHoult]

Watched all your videos the instant they came out last cup. Great to see you back!

[@macscott5290]

Great video. Found your channel during the last AC and quickly became addicted. Helped make sense of all the tech involved. Going forward would be great to see a series of videos focused on single aspects across all the teams e.g. one on foils and rudders, one on wetted hull shape, one on hull aero, etc, etc. Really looking forward to getting to grips with all the tech before the next AC 😊 keep up the amazing work

[@MozzySails]

For sure we'll be doing this alongside monthly updates!

[@jamesaron1967]

Very interesting interview that sheds light on some of the goings on behind the scenes in the AC. Can't wait for the next video!

[@MozzySails]

Thank you James

[@sailgeek11]

Cheers Mozzy - look forward to your updates.

[@carlosneto9348]

Well done, Tom ! Looking forward for the next videos.

[@sierrasailor]

Great interview with an insightful final question. Well done. Thank you

[@MozzySails]

Cheers David

[@K-JFDI-W]

Thank you Tom for making this happen and worthy success for all the spectacular insight to date! Christmas has definitely come early this cycle

[@MozzySails]

My pleasure!

[@alleycatphoto4973]

Great content looking forward to the next show

[@Dirtytechnique]

great interview. ray is a super nice guy. I still remember the cameras from the “appartements" looking straight into the tent at the viaduct harbor.

[@SilvanMarty]

This with new recon rules i finding great! All teams thogeter desside what they interested. Great idea from Dan Berlusconi 👍 Mozzy videos was of course interesting to watch! Great that's team NZ giving an interview. Thanks Ray Davies

[@learigg]

Welcome back, great video,. Thanks.

[@rodporteous5644]

Mozzy a great introduction to the innovative approach of sharing competitive edge information across all competitors for the benefit of the sport. Really looking forward to some more geeky stuff from you, a really great start to the build up to the cup. Might have to book some air flights to Barcelona . Keep up with the great work

[@MikeB-lm6yw]

Great video! Looking forward to seeing how things unfold. It's going to be exciting racing on a lumpy, high wind day! Do they have an upper wind limit set yet?

[@Hypoformance]

Congrats Mozzy ! Thats recognition for Great work ! Stoked to be able to watch ^The Cup´ again in an interesting and comprehensive way. Maybe you could approach the teams to give you a regular video update on their interpretations and summary of the data - that may reduce your work load a bit and give us enough to gawk at while keeping their `stuff´ secret..but with 5 different assessments & reports of the same data it´ll be difficult for anything dramatic to remain concealed for long i imagine...next cup could almost end up as one design....

[@aardvarkmindshank]

Excited to see this develop!

[@alexborland4977]

You're back! So stoked to see a new video come out and gratz on increased exposure.

[@MozzySails]

More to come!

[@jamespowrie6125]

Love your work. Tom if you have time what about an article on Glen Ashby’s land yacht ??

[@MozzySails]

Love the land yacht. We'll see if we have time!

[@Orga50]

I would go as far as to say that I enjoyed your recap more than the actual races during the last cycle, keep it up and simple

[@MozzySails]

Thanks, will do!

[@iainurquhart7606]

Fantastic! Well deserved!

[@nigelwaller6171]

Excellent.......great to have your input again

[@MozzySails]

More to come!

[@mschrodter]

This was incredible!!! Man am I excited!!!!!

[@MozzySails]

The 37th Cup has a lot of potential!

[@googleyoutubechannel8554]

NZ has always punched way above its weight in engineering innovation, speaks to something special about the culture and teamwork I think the whole world can learn from.

[@alexanderuganecz989]

So now we just need to get rid of that pesky day job. 🤔 ie the teams should pay you to do this full time. Actually adds a lot to the whole cup experience. Well done bruv.

[@pointphotography9125]

Great to see you being rewarded for all the amazing work you all did last time around 👍👍👍

[@MozzySails]

Thank you so much 😀

[@davidhz1440]

Keep up the brilliant work.. Great Channel. Fan from day one..

[@MozzySails]

Much appreciated!

[@eddiec6280]

Brilliant stuff, i've just subscribed to your channel. Can't wait for your next vid 👍

[@MozzySails]

Great to have you onboard!

[@tflspitfire]

awesome to have detailed coverage this early :) I hope they will be able to change the race dynamics to allow for more overtakes. the last cup became a little boring whem it became clear that one boat could essentially block the other with their shadow.

[@tristankiddie1710]

Hey Mozzie. Stoked you have been bought in on the spy coverage! Looking forward to seeing your analysis! Can you do "splash down" videos, they seem to not show them on the AmCup yt account

[@tiagdvideo]

Brilliant. "You're pretty much the "go to" source"....we've all been saying that for ages.

[@morgananderson9647]

The recon role seems very similar to the F1 rules now implemented requiring all teams must release a listing of changes made to the car/engine and provided to the FIA for oversight. Once again, thanks for the great content. I hope you'll get stream sponsors so you'll be able to generate revenue because your content is so outstanding! Perhaps it could fund a future family expansion!!! Best regards, Mo-

[@PereAndreuUbachdeFuentes]

As a Barcelonian I am delighted to receive the Cup at my home city. And more so if that contributes to the development path of this new generation of sailboats to make their way towards true seaworthiness. As definitely San Francisco, Bermuda and Hauraki Gulf were very protected venues where to race. In contrast, Barcelona will provide a really challenging racing area. I really hope Barcelona's weather will deliver in that sense, and that we see real windy conditions, albeit it is a time of the year with mostly mellow winds. It would have been much more interesting during the month of May, when most of the big regattas are held in Barcelona because you have much stronger consistent winds.

[@Hypoformance]

Yep, There can be some large wind swell and weird cross swells off Barcelona...Local knowledge will pay as usual so this data share will make it a little more even imo.

[@samuelzackrisson8865]

thank you for this video. super interesting stuff

[@MozzySails]

Thanks Samuel!

[@charlottescott7150]

Wow! Amazing thank you!

[@MozzySails]

Glad you liked it!

[@timball885]

Can’t wait, and hopefully you’ll get the ‘Band’ back together. Your analysis last time was spot on and this interested novice couldn’t get enough. Do you think we may see a few dummy items to through the other teams off, maybe not a big Turbo button but fun thought.

[@MozzySails]

I have thought that could be the case... we will see!

[@johntasker9588]

Thank you ETNZ for the innovation and fair play, I'm sure you won't be sharing everything.

[@UnkleSi]

It's a fascinating idea! Don't know if it will work or not, but I wouldn't bet against Dan. I didn't think foiling monohulls with canting foils would work either until we saw them Working!

[@MozzySails]

I was against the monohulls... most everything I believed was wrong. Taught me to be more open minded

[@pierocostantini2864]

What video platform does the Recon team use to archive and stream the media?

[@javiercifrian2787]

Fantastic

[@huntGRN]

Mozzy - thanks for a great video. Are normal fans able to access all the photos, video, etc instead of just the short clips on KZbin?

[@MozzySails]

No, only a very select few people outside the teams. However, if you search #AC37recon all the daily videos are posted by the America's Cup channel

[@samc.6639]

Would love to see an F1 style Sky pad analysis on the AC37 world feed, run by Mozzy 😎

[@michaelcooney7687]

The information shared will, no end, collectively improve the technology just as open sourced info has.

[@truegret7778]

Fascinating idea to have a shared recon group. I suspect it will actually be mutually beneficial to all teams, and accelerate the advancements. I really don't see the potential to have boats that look as if they have been cloned. It will be interesting to follow the few years.

[@nh-ss5pw]

Nice

[@ross82]

There was no debate, a boat that can’t sail without shore power assistance is not a sailing boat, it’s a hybrid.

[@AR_434]

Great content! The only criticism I have is the acoustics of your guest. A room with less reverb or a set of AirPod Pros would have made the interview even more enjoyable.

[@MozzySails]

Yeah, sorry about that, Ray did record his end too but that was almost more echo. Part of the price of interviewing people who are on the ground and in the thick of it! ... I will request ETNZ acoustically treat their briefing room 😃

[@AR_434]

@@MozzySails Haha, thanks mate! Very much looking forward to your upcoming videos!

[@MikStorer]

@Mozzy Sails ... question ... what limitations have been placed on you for sharing the information that you now have available from the recon. It would be interesting to see your comments on this - in effect a briefing of the type of information you have available to share with us.

[@MozzySails]

We'll be doing monthly briefs, each covering process over the proceeding calendar month. We'll go over there what we have access to.

[@MozzySails]

But bascially I can share anything they put on the portal, which is the same as the other teams recieve. The only limitation is if there are celebrities or new sponsors which the teams want to break news on... but I'm not so interested in that anyways, so hardly a restriction really

[@MikStorer]

@@MozzySails That is great for all of us!

[@3drocket]

What is stopping the teams from developing equipment on a different boat away from the spy's and only bringing it to the cup boat at the last minute? I am thinking about how teamNZ used the small cat to develop foiling away from prying eyes.

[@MozzySails]

They are limited to two small boats (one ac40 and one LEQ12) one old ac75 and one new ac75. No surrogate yachts are allowed.

[@isaacmtamou8070]

It would be interesting to know if in the last cup did ETNZ get all of there toys on Te Rehutai was Te Rehutai at its full potential

[@davidtydeman1434]

I am sure that Team NZ would tell you that they wanted to add more innovation but decided to stick with a certain standard and then get really good at using the systems

[@fabmanly1070]

Let’s hope the boys do a sail-past at Blake.

[@andewroberts5474]

Have to think the Kiwis have a few tricks up their sleeves.

[@radiomishima]

The shared recon team system still passes but that you have to register all the pieces that are modified and above all that the requests of the teams on which aspects to investigate are public, greatly eliminates the technological challenge that was a large part of the struggle for the Cup. Even if I don't think it is immediate to evaluate the feedback in terms of performance that the engineering choices have on boats. Of course all of this adds a bit of spectacle to the actual ac regattas with boats closer in terms of performance but in this way the Cup is transformed into what it is not: Sailgp. Hosting the Cup not in the country of the defender is another aspect that distorts the cup. Only for money. At least the development process will be somehow transparent towards the outside and will allow us to follow the cup for two years of development. I hope that within the team there is someone who cares about making deception operations to divert the choices of the other teams and above all that the development teams that will be able to create truly innovative projects that give an important edge to boats will be able to protect them from this recon system

[@bradclifton5248]

Each iteration of the AC within a specific class design sees the boats become more and more similar. By the end of 12m class, the boats were more alike that different. F1 is the same. Cars are near identical, it all comes down to the fine tuning on the day that makes the difference.

[@jan-udosiefkes8864]

One very stupid technical invention in the last cup was, they mentioned in the victory celebration, that every team member is chipped, so that the fans can track each crew member. I thought, one could put RFIDs in the clothes. Nice to see Your' videos again.

slight side topic, but I am very interested to hear what the experts think of the twin skin mainsails, are they a success? how do they compare to the wings of the GP50's , ideal would be comments from guys who have sailed with both of them

[@callumwyper]

They are extremely efficient I don’t have the numbers in my head right now but it’s in the region of 60% more efficient than traditional sails and 40% more efficient than the wings if done correctly (numbers may be off by +- 10%

[@lex1233]

More efficient in surviving capsize’s too

[@carlosneto9348]

At least they are still sails, not wings. That should not even be called sailing, but ... winging ?... 🙄

[@zlm001]

Cool.

[@bradclifton5248]

Im not convinced about short course racing. I feel like small race courses limited the potential for tactical and environmental, variations to impact a race. We definitely dont want a start winner/race winner outcome. Will short course racing result in this too much.

[@williamhamill813]

So what recon team is being put up at the best hotel? and by whom?

[@MozzySails]

Good question!

[@bradclifton5248]

Well, rabbit holes. A team might get stuck looking at somethings that are NO things. Use resources analysing a dead end. Even faking things that trigger distractions.

[@CHMichael]

Rule change 1 - no mechanical engines .

[@scottkleyla7752]

Stealth mode is off friend,your visable to unknowns! eeeEEEEEKK !

[@sidknee4975]

Band after Mctapper had his fun. Danna being biased no doubt.

[@adeeule]

Still waiting

[@MozzySails]

it goes live at 5pm UK time. Set a reminder!

[@adeeule]

done🤙

[@sweetwater5030]

We just go to you

[@MozzySails]

😁

[@honawikeepa5813]

Respect Emirates NZ. Leading the way forward.

[@Steve1734]

I won't watch it. They should go back to the old 12 metre rule or a one design class like the Volvo 60, and make it affordable. These are just as artificial as todays F1 cars. They are just slot cars on water.

[@ScottSummerill]

I don't like it. Just removes one more thing that was intriguing and wonderful about the Cup. I'm sick with all this saving money BS. Maybe for the 38th event they should just sail a stock version of the AC40 and winner takes home the Cup. That's what it's beginning to feel like. Could you imagine if Australia had to reveal they were experimenting with a winged keel? And, maybe it's also time for the Kiwi's to relinquish the Cup and let others develop the event. Unbelievable that they moved it to Spain.

[@UnkleSi]

They had to move it offshore due to our crap government playing politics with the event. They were gutted to move the event away from home shores.

[@jamieblack9349]

These boats are not match racing. It’s win the start, don’t make a mistake onboard win race. As a sailor I think New Zealand ruined the Americas cup. I used to love watching the match racing pre start, tacking and gybing duals. This is not in the spirit of what the cup used to be, now it money and just trying to entertain people who don’t care about sailing.