Emirates Team New Zealand's Sea-Guard: safety on

You need protection at speeds of around 50 knots, 100 or more kilometers per hour, to safely steer the boats competing for victory in the America’s Cup. To achieve this, the Emirates Team New Zealand, 2017 and 2021 defendingchampions, turned to Dainese, just like the crew of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli did, to create a jacket developed specifically for the most extreme races in the world.

Flexible, durable and buoyant protection

Sea-Guard is an innovative protector, expressly designed to be worn on America’s Cup sailing yachts. It covers ribs, collarbones and the back, i.e. the areas that Dainese already knows how to safeguard, owing to the experience gained with MotoGP™ professional riders. However, unlike the protectors integrated in racing suits, Sea-Guard panels are made of soft material, a solution that offers excellent flexibility, leaving athletes free to move unimpeded when on board. 

What makes Sea-Guard unique and distinguishes it from any other sports protector ever made by Dainese is that the jacket is certified for buoyancy, as expressly required by the regatta regulations. The ability to float is an inherent characteristic of the foam with which the jackets are filled; it means that no further modifications were necessary to obtain homologation as a Personal Flotation Device.

Perfection is in the detail  

In a break with the past, at the 37th America’s Cup the distinct roles of the crew members required the creation of two different Sea-Guard versions, based on the type of movements the individual has to make during the race. There are Cyclors, who pedal inside special stations to generate energy to activate the vessel’s hydraulic systems, and Trimmers, who use the energy generated to drive the mechanisms that control the movements of the mast and sails.

The version of Sea-Guard worn by Emirates Team New Zealand is made of Dainese technical fabric, which is particularly light and breathable. Elastic and resistant, it’s perfect for guaranteeing safety and giving athletes maximum freedom of movement in all situations. 

From 2024, the 37th America’s Cup, the women’s trophy comes into the picture. Emirates Team New Zealand’s women’s lineup has therefore requested dedicated jackets to be made, which replicate the technical features of the men’s versions but in a smaller size.

The helmet – from the world of Skiing, NUCLEO

To ensure maximum safety on board, the Emirates Team New Zealand crew members chose a Dainese helmet developed built on the experience gained with Ski World Cup athletes. In particular, it started with the Nucleo helmet, which was modified to meet the needs of the sailing world, the regulations of which require that the helmets used exceed the certifications of ski helmets. The helmet also integrates an intercom system, essential for communications between crew members and with the race direction.

From chest to head, the America’s Cup title defenders rely on Dainese to be safe on board ever faster sailing yachts. They wear Sea-Guard, a completely innovative garment used by both teams competing for the America’s Cup title, along with ETNZ which is also used by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – perfect for finding the confidence to express yourself to the full in the most extreme races on all the seas.