Team New Zealand's new AC75 boat which will defend the America's Cup in Spain in October. Photo: Supplied: Team NZ
After 10 months under construction Team New Zealand's boat to defend the America's Cup in Barcelona later this year, has emerged at the team's Wynyard Point base in Auckland.
The new AC75 was wheeled out to have its rig stepped and rigging checked in preparation for its launch and first sail next week.
"It is always a pretty significant moment for any team. The first time their race boat emerges from the shed and sees the light of day," Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge said.
"These moments are some of the most revealing of any campaign. So much of any America's Cup campaign goes on behind closed doors and with the utmost secrecy protecting designs and plans, but there always comes a time when you need to show some of your cards. And although what we have revealed today is not all of our cards, it sure gives everyone an indication of our design path."
The boat had previously been transported under the cover of darkness from the team's North Shore build facility to the Wynyard Point base where an intensive fit out programme has been undertaken.
"We have had today in the calendar for a long long time as the date that we would wheel the boat out to step the rig, and it is always critical to be hitting these important milestones.
"We still have a mountain to climb over the next seven months to successfully defend the America's Cup in October, so plenty more ahead of us which as a team we are looking forward to," Shoebridge said.
For now, the team continues to commission and prepare the new AC75 for its naming ceremony next week.