Team NZ’s magic return
Team New Zealand were delighted to get Te Aihe back on the water yesterday and had some visitors to greet them.
The New York yacht Club’s American Magic docked Defiant, their own AC75, at their new Auckland base and then had both their reconnaissance boats out their cheacking in the return of the defenders.
With two teams now in their bases and some espionage allegations swirling around, the Cup has suddenly come to life.
For the Kiwis, it’s about getting back in the groove with Te Aihe after its long absence to Europe, and they were greeted by perfect 11-16 knots of breeze out of the south.
‘‘We’ve sailed the big boat the least out of all the teams really over the last five months and we are really trying to reacquaint ourselves and get that boat around the track so that’s our focus,’’ Emirates Team New Zealand’s chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge told Stuff.
‘‘The plan is to have a little sailing block over the next few weeks, so we want to push it along.
‘‘It was very good for a first day. We hoisted and got sailing straight away, went into a gybe and a few more gybes and tacks, so that was really positive. Hopefully we’ll be back to get put there tomorrow.’’
Shoebridge said the arrival of American Magic was a timely reminder of how quickly racing will creep up on teams.
‘‘I’m sitting at our base looking right across the water at them. Their boat is in the water. That’s really great and it’s going to be a big lift for everyone, especially our guys knowing there’s going to be another AC75 out in the water in two weeks time,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s all going to come around really quickly, as always.’’
American Magic were equally enthused.
‘‘Seeing our boat unloaded in Auckland was an awesome moment for our team, and a significant milestone for the America’s Cup as well,’’ said Terry Hutchinson, skipper and executive director of American Magic.
‘‘Soon we will all see American Magic out on the same patch of water as the defender, Emirates Team New
Zealand. That’ll definitely be an exciting sight for sailing fans worldwide, and for us it will be a daily reminder of the huge task we have in front of us.
‘‘Every possible training day from now until the Prada Cup is priceless, and we are focused on going sailing again as quickly as possible.’’
He was relieved to see the logistical exercise of getting Defiant to Auckland at short notice unfold successfully.
‘‘I could not be more proud of how our 145-person team has handled this shipping process, and everything else the pandemic has thrown at us,’’ said Hutchinson.
‘‘Our shore and operations team pivoted incredibly well as events happened, and as the focus changed basically overnight from getting us to Europe to getting us to Auckland.
‘‘Our production guys have been able to safely keep the ‘Boat 2’ build process going, and it looks incredible. And our design group has maintained a singular focus of developing an AC75 capable of winning the 36th America’s Cup.
‘‘Now we just need to pass our remaining team members through quarantine, keep everyone healthy and safe, and get back to business on the water.’’