Emirates Team New Zealand today unveiled its second AC72 with a low-key ceremony at the team’s Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, base. Barely six months after the team’s first AC72 catamaran started testing the second boat was ready for the water, another significant milestone accomplished as the team prepares for its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup. Auckland’s weather today did not co-operate. After weeks on bright sun and light winds, the city was overcast, wet, cool and windy. The brisk north-easterly breeze was gusting to 28 knots and the team decided not to risk lifting the boat into the water after it was blessed by Ngati Whatua o Orakei. Managing director Grant Dalton said: “We were ready to launch but the weather wasn’t. Even though we didn’t lift the boat we met another of our self-imposed deadlines. Dalton: “we’re on schedule!”
Emirates Team New Zealand today unveiled its second AC72 with a low-key ceremony at the team’s Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, base. Barely six months after the team’s first AC72 catamaran started testing the second boat was ready for the water, another significant milestone accomplished as the team prepares for its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup. Auckland’s weather today did not co-operate. After weeks on bright sun and light winds, the city was overcast, wet, cool and windy. The brisk north-easterly breeze was gusting to 28 knots and the team decided not to risk lifting the boat into the water after it was blessed by Ngati Whatua o Orakei. Managing director Grant Dalton said: “We were ready to launch but the weather wasn’t. Even though we didn’t lift the boat we met another of our self-imposed deadlines.