America's Cup- AC45 hits 20kts on maiden sail on Hauraki Gulf

Please select your home edition

Edition

America's Cup- AC45 hits 20kts on maiden sail on Hauraki Gulf

by Gilles Martin-Raget on 17 Jan 2011

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

Top international photographer, Gilles Martin-Raget, was on hand to capture the first sail of the prototype AC45 in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

The AC45 is the forerunner to the AC72 which will be used in the 34th America's Cup. The 45ft long yacht will feature a wingsail, the same as the larger 72ft yacht to be used in the September 2013 Match in San Francisco.

The yacht is reported to have exceeded 20kts in speed in a breeze of around 12kts.

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

16/01/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America’s Cup - AC45 1st sail © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/79245

North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOM

RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Speed, Stability and a Transatlantic Race Record
The 34-metre Baltic 111 Raven has rewritten the limits of monohull offshore performance The 34-metre Baltic 111 Raven has rewritten the limits of monohull offshore performance, taking Monohull Line Honours, winning the IMA Transatlantic Trophy, and setting a new monohull race record in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race.
Posted on 18 Jan

GLOBE40 Leg 4 update: Final stretch to Valparaiso
The great southern experience towards another suspenseful finish? 1100 miles from Valparaiso this morning, Sunday, January 18, the two leaders of Leg 4 are beginning their final stretch towards the long-awaited destination. They left the Southern Ocean 48 hours ago after a final tack near the 50° latitude limit.
Posted on 18 Jan

Red Bull Italy SailGP Team fires up for Season 6
A fresh squad, new energy, and a second-place finish on Sunday in Perth SailGP's sixth season exploded into life Down Under for the Perth Sail Grand Prix, and the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team came out swinging. A fresh squad, new energy, and a second-place finish on Sunday showed exactly what this team is building together.
Posted on 18 Jan

SailGP Team France at Perth Sail Grand Prix
Quentin Delapierre's team finish an excellent third overall The DS Automobiles SailGP Team France made an outstanding start to its 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship campaign by securing a podium finish at the Perth Sail Grand Prix, the opening event of the season.
Posted on 18 Jan

Swiss SailGP Team shows resilience in Perth
Returning to compete after significant damage forced an early exit on Saturday The Switzerland SailGP Team delivered a determined performance at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, facing some of the toughest conditions seen this season on the Indian Ocean.
Posted on 18 Jan

Star Sailors League Sustainability Actions
Together we race for the planet At Ocean Marina Jomtien, the Star Sailors League proved that elite sailing and sustainability go hand in hand. Alongside racing at the SEA Games and the SSL Gold Cup Asian Qualifiers, a parallel effort unfolded onshore and offshore.
Posted on 18 Jan

Baltic 111 wins IMA Trophy
Raven has set a new Monohull Race Record for the RORC Transatlantic Race Baltic 111 Raven, skippered by Damien Durchon, has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race. Raven crossed the finish line outside English Harbour, Antigua on Sunday 18th January 2026 at 10:57:47 UTC.
Posted on 18 Jan

11th edition of “Between Wood and Water”
The event will take place inside the Officine dell'Acqua shipyard and museum in Laveno Mombello The annual national Convention on Historic Boats, organized by the Officine dell'Acqua Foundation and AVEV, the Verbano Vintage Sails Association, returns on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Posted on 18 Jan

SailGP: Brits light up to win in Perth
Emirates Great Britain carried their momentum from being Season 5 Grand Final winner into Race Day 2 Fresh winds and sharp seas asked plenty of questions of the reduced SailGP fleet, competing in the first event of Season 6 at Fremantle, WA.
Posted on 18 Jan

Perfect Perth for SailGP Season Opener
Spectacular racing, damage, collisions and injuries The Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix saw the kind of conditions that SailGP sailors and the fans relish. Small rigs, high speeds, a tight racecourse, and some spectacular racing.
Posted on 18 Jan

This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Sail-World Europe and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy