The next America's Cup is now only a year and a half away and Emirates Team New Zealand say the coming year is crucial to success in Bermuda.
The team ended a successful 2015 on top of the World Series standings, a remarkable result after a year of internal and external turmoil.
And chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge is blunt in his assessment of Team New Zealand's plan for this year.
"In our mind, 2016 is the year you win the Cup. The development, the sailing of the test boat, the development of the test boat and its systems, is crucial," he said.
That test boat finally hit the water in mid-December – much later than their rivals, after a rough past year for the team.
They're still engaged in a dispute with Cup organisers over a decision to strip Auckland of a regatta, while the very public departure of Dean Barker and a number of other personnel left a big hole in the ranks – but after all the changes, the team is moving forward.
"It's really playing out the way we hoped it would, and getting the balance and make-up of the people right is super important – that's probably the most important thing in the campaign," he said
"So to come out on top after this year is actually better than we thought to be completely honest. We didn't think we'd be in that position."
The new-look crew, led by Glenn Ashby and featuring Olympic silver medalists and World Sailors of the Year Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, top the AC World Series standings after recording top three finishes in all but one of their nine races.
"To end the season 10 or so points ahead of our opposition, who've put probably a lot more time and effort and definitely money into the last couple of years than we have, is extremely satisfying – and going into next year it certainly gives us a springboard to launch from," Ashby said.
But Ashby will be without their young stars for some of 2016, as Burling and Tuke chase Olympic gold in Rio.
"Pete and Blair put a huge amount of effort with us in the development process but they have to go out and try to win Olympic gold in the 49er class, so there's plenty of people that'll be doing different yachting," he said.
"But collectively as a group, all the skillsets we have, have to be put all together to design a fast boat. So ultimately speed's your friend when you're in a yacht race."
And with the team now making solid progress, they certainly are in the race.
3 News
