[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Emirates Team New Zealand is well into packing up the base, boats and gear for the voyage to S an Francisco and the long-anticipated Louis Vuitton Challenger series.

The team’s second AC72 sailed in Auckland for the last time yesterday. Today shore and sailing crews swarmed over it readying the yacht for transport.

In the wing tent, works started on dismantling the wings. They will be broken down into six sections, shrink-wrapped and will travel on extended flatracks and open-top containers.

The team will be start the move on April 11 and it will gather pace day-by-day.

Workshops and office equipment, computers, desks and chairs will all make the move. In less than three weeks most of it will be on they way.

Final day of sailing for the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72. Auckland, 3 April 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Final day of sailing for the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72. Auckland, 3 April 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Final day of sailing for the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72. Auckland, 3 April 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Final day of sailing for the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72. Auckland, 3 April 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Final day of sailing for the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72. Auckland, 3 April 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Emirates Team New Zealand, has been training throughout the southern hemisphere summer in home waters and prior to heading to San Francisco where the racing for the 34th America’s Cup will take place, the team today reveals a new performance enhancing innovation on board the 72-foot multihull.

While this particular innovation was not in their plans at the initial design stage, the addition is one of a continuing performance enhancing evolution and Emirates Team New Zealand managing director, Grant Dalton, expects this one to attract a lot of attention: “I am expecting a lot of noise about it, especially from the sailors in other teams who I am sure will feel that they are missing out.”

In a first for the team they have shared their innovation with the world: “Everything you do is not only about designing the fastest boat,” said skipper Dean Barker,“ but finding ways to improve that boat. We’re always looking for new features and new ideas on how to make the boat go faster and we’re very excited about this new development.”

Find out more via this exclusive video launch that demonstrates the innovation in action on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf.

After watching Martin Tasker’s report on TV New Zealand one wonders whether the already record-low pool of America’s Cup challengers has shrunk to just one, Emirates Team New Zealand. Still, Grant Dalton’s team will have to face Oracle Team USA in order to win the America’s Cup. Will they make it or are they destined to become the perpetual Louis Vuitton Cup holders?

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Emirates Team New Zealand took its second AC72 catamaran sailing for the first time today. It was a much-anticipated day, another big step on the way to the 34th America’s Cup competition at San Francisco.

Racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger elimination series, start in less than five months.

Before that, the team has to complete an exhaustive two-month testing and training programme on the AC72 at Auckland, before packing the base and shipping race yachts, chase boats and the team’s entire support infrastructure to San Francisco.

The team expects to be sailing on San Francisco Bay towards the end of May.

Today, after waiting for the breeze to fill in, the cat left the dock at 12.30pm in a north-easterly between 8-11 knots.

Under the watchful eyes of designers, engineers, and system specialists on chase boats, the sailing crew eased into the day’s sailing programme.

The race yacht returned to base late afternoon, having completed the day’s schedule. The team stays on shore tomorrow with the second sailing day on Thursday.

Emirates Team New Zealand’s second AC72 goes on her first sail. Auckland, 12 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand’s second AC72 goes on her first sail. Auckland, 12 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand’s second AC72 goes on her first sail. Auckland, 12 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand’s second AC72 goes on her first sail. Auckland, 12 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand’s second AC72 goes on her first sail. Auckland, 12 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

A Billionaire’s Game: The 2013 America’s Cup

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] 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.

Emirattes Team New Zealand unveils second AC72 yacht. Auckland, 4 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirattes Team New Zealand

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.

“America’s Cup rules did not allow the launch of a second boat until last Friday, February 1 (San Francisco time), effectively Saturday in New Zealand. We settled for a Monday launch for the second boat three months ago.”

“With the gusts making the wing lift difficult this morning, it was prudent not to risk damage at the start of a busy testing programme.

“Tomorrow the test programme gets underway with load testing and the new boat will be sailing later this week.”

The team finished the first AC72’s 30-day sailing programme on December 12, two days earlier than scheduled, and we immediately switched focus to finishing and commissioning the second boat.

Dalton said the entire team had put a huge amount of work into meeting today’s deadline.” Our people have been working six- and seven-day weeks and they have had little family time for months.

Dalton said the base would be closed for four days from next Friday to give everyone a little down time. “It’s a small reward for such a massive effort and a job well done.

Emirattes Team New Zealand unveils second AC72 yacht. Auckland, 4 February 2013. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirattes Team New Zealand

“Now the reality is we have only five months before we start racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup. Before that we will do two months of intensive testing in Auckland. We suspend the test programme in early April and pack the cats, chase boats, base structures, workshops, offices, gym, kitchens and stores for the move to San Francisco.

“The last of the America’s Cup world series regattas will be held at Naples, Italy, starting on April 16. That will take some of the sailing team, shore crew, logistics and admin people out of play for a couple of weeks.

“We will be sailing the AC72 in San Francisco towards the end of May. Racing starts on July 7.”

Emirates Team New Zealand was back on the water today sailing the AC45.

With the AC72 decommissioned and stored in the boat shed and the second AC72 yet to be delivered to the base for assembly, the sailing crew took to the water to sharpen up and practice for the next ACWS regatta.

The regatta will be held at Naples, Italy, in April. It will be the last of the ACWS Ac45 regattas as competitors switch focus totally to the AC72 and the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series which starts on July 4.

Today training for Dean Barker – with crew Ray Davies, James Dagg, Adam Beashel and Derek Saward – training included some welcome practice racing with Luna Rossa.

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa train on their AC45′s. Auckland, 10 January 2012. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team New Zealand

Day 30 is the final permitted sailing day before February 1st 2013. Today was the 30th day of sailing, here is a quick look back at what has gone on in those 30 days.