Team NZ launches Cup boat
AUCKLAND: Expecting to leave their America’s Cup rivals in their wake, Team New Zealand has given its new boat an appro
priate name: Te Rehutai, or sea spray.
Te Rehutai will be be the yacht charged with defending the Auld Mug in next year’s America’s Cup in Auckland. The design is quite different from previous iterations of the AC75s in some areas, particularly the hull.
At the Viaduct launch last evening, Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton said the design process started with a blank sheet of paper.
“There was no concept,” he said.
“We knew it had to be a monohull but we couldn’t leave the [twohulled] generation behind.
“You couldn’t find a person within Team NZ who believes that we haven’t exceeded what we thought we would.”
Team NZ board chair Sir Stephen Tindall took time to assure the crowd of his organisation’s integrity despite reports of questionable finances.
“As you would have seen in the media, we’ve had a tough year on a number of fronts,” he said.
“Let me assure you of our integrity in these matters, and assure you that those distractions have not impacted the sailors, the designers or our broader team.”
Tindall said New Zealand would not get the full economic benefit that had been expected from the Cup because of Covid19, but the event would now be “for the benefit of Kiwis. We will showcase our city and our country on the available television, video and digital devices worldwide, and broadcasting will be free to air in most countries”.
“We are determined to make the AC36 the most spectacular America’s Cup,” Tindall said.
He said designing the America’s Cup boat was “the most scientifically and technologically advanced” of his many investments, along with Rocket Lab.
Tindall’s wife Margaret christened the yacht as it was lowered into the Waitemata Harbour, to cheers from the crowd and horns sounding from a nearby boat.
Boating enthusiasts Don Crawford and Tony Linford, who came from Beachlands to see the launch, said the new boat looked gorgeous.
“It’s a Formula One racing car for the water,” Crawford said.
“It’s cutting edge, something New Zealand should be proud of,” said Linford.
Crawford said the boat was “much wider than I thought it would have been”.
The two friends said they hoped Team NZ would now concentrate on the sailing instead of the business dealings that have dominated recent media coverage.
“They don’t need that sort of thing — just get on with it,” Crawford said. “It doesn’t look good.”
Structural engineer Dmitry Chernushkin described the new shape as impressive.
“I think it will be fast,” he said.
“The design looked beautiful, I think the most beautiful shape. I hope that they will win the competition.”
The obvious features are the extreme flare in the bow and the pronounced longitudinal keel.
AUT sailing professor Mark Orams said the boat was a “step forward” from the previous AC75, Te Aihe.
“I love what they have come up with — now it’s up to Peter Burling and co to make the most of it.’’ —