Team NZ’s magic return to action

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 checking 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,’’ 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 out 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.’’