Hi Jake...

I had understood that a lot of the high-tech weather equipment and forecast info was shared between teams. That article you had a link to, in the 3rd paragraph after the pictures of the SODAR dishes, said the teams "clubbed together to share expenses." Also, I thought that no contact was allowed between the boats and any outside source from a few minutes before starting until the end of the race (unless withdrawing).
There is no doubt that preparing a competitive boat and crew for the America's Cup costs in the millions.

So race five went on under pretty good wind conditions, and Team NZ lost that (final) race as well. Their spinnaker pole breaking did not help matters. Team NZ never did try a race in lighter winds, where perhaps things might not have been so prone to break.

Mark Owens
1976 H16 sail# 19857