sail-world.com -- America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ’s AC72 catamaran arrives at Viaduct
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ’s AC72 catamaran arrives at Viaduct
Tue, 26 Jun 2012
Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC72 catamaran entered its final phase of build today, June 26, 2012, with the arrival of the major components at the Team’s Viaduct Harbour base.
At 22m long and 16m wide the assembled yacht is too big to be transported by road.
The hulls, cross beams and other structural elements arrived separately. The shore crew will assemble the components into the 'platform' over the next few weeks.
The yacht, complete with the 40m wingsail, will be sailing on Auckland Harbour towards the end of July.
With both the platform and wing at the base the final assembly is now in full swing.
Major changes have been made at the base to house the big cat. A 65m structure of 12 40ft shipping containers covered by a tent has been erected on the concrete forecourt between the base and the harbour.
A second smaller tent structure for the platform has been erected on the site of the original Team New Zealand building in Halsey Street.
When the team moves to San Francisco next year, the tents will follow and become the teams base in USA.
CEO Grant Dalton: 'We have been working towards this day since the end of 2010. We started building in August last year and we’re now planning a public naming ceremony at the Viaduct Harbour in the early evening of July 21.
Dalton said: 'Nothing like this cat has ever been built before. Four teams are in the final stages of building an AC72 – Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa, Oracle and Artemis.
'Three of the AC72's are largely being built in New Zealand. Oracle Team USA is building major components at Warkworth and Luna Rossa are assembling and we are building at Auckland.
'Under the protocol the hulls have to be built in a team’s home country. Other components and structures, including the wings, can be built anywhere. It’s interesting that even though the America’s Cup is being held in San Francisco New Zealand is still right at the centre of the action.
'Everything about these boats is entirely new: the design, the engineering, the fittings and the complexity of the build. Right from the start the project has raised a new set of challenges for the team and the marine industry. 'We have even had a team working on procedures to launch and retrieve the yacht. There was no manual to consult.'
'A coalition of local companies has come together to make this happen – boat builders, spar makers, suppliers and machine shops. Without their whole-hearted support the build would not have been possible to complete on budget and on time.'
Burke Marine
Burke Marine, suppliers of international quality marine clothing and equipment, was founded by Martin Burke on the shores of Sydney Harbour in 1971. Visit our website for your nearest stockist. [More info]
http://www.burkemarine.com.au
Ensign Ship Brokers
Ensign Ship Brokers was established in 1980 and has spent the last 28 years expanding our marine knowledge and developing our reputation! We strive to provide the very best service! [More info]
http://www.ensignbrokers.com.au/
GME Standard Communications Pty Ltd
Leaders in communications and navigation. Their goal has always been to make products whose innovation, convenience and peace of mind can help improve the lives of their customers. [More info]
http://www.gme.net.au
Hamilton Island Luxury Accommodation
Full range of private apartments, villas and houses on Hamilton Island. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 bedroom options available. All include buggy and island airport or marina transfers. [More info]
http://www.whitsundayholidays.com.au
Multihull Solutions
Multihull Solutions is Australia and New Zealand’s premier offshore and cruising catamaran and trimaran specialist, offering sales and servicing of the world’s finest multihull brands.
[More info]
http://www.multihullsolutions.com.au
Navionics Australia
Navionics is proud of its superb cartographic database comprising more than 25,000 charts and port plans; the largest privately owned database of its kind, the only one using full seamless technology [More info]
http://www.navionics.com.au
OziOpti
OziOpti is all about 'getting kids in boats' and the Australian company supporting the introduction to of the world’s most popular junior sailing yacht, the 'International Optimist Dinghy' [More info]
http://www.oziopti.com.au
Performance Sailcraft Australia (Asia Pacific)
Laser builder Performance Sailcraft Australia has taken on the successful RS Sailboat range from Britain, and is now licensed to build and distribute all of the RS range in the Asia Pacific region. [More info]
http://www.lasersailing.com.au
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is Australasia's most significant marine lifestyle event. We look forward to welcoming you to the 25th annual event. [More info]
http://www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au/
Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week
Entries for the fourth annual Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week have opened! 4 days of racing, 5 days of fun – that is what you can look forward to from 3-7 September at Magnetic Island. [More info]
http://www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
Ullman Sails
For over 45 years, Ullman Sails has been devoted to helping our customers reach their sailing goals. [More info]
http://www.ullmansails.com
VicSail Sydney
Vicsail Sydney Pty Ltd, launched into the Australian sailing fraternity in 1983 and has been sailing strong ever since. At Vicsail, “We Sail the Boats We Sell”. [More info]
http://www.vicsailsydney.com.au