Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Around the bases: A pictorial look at America's Cup base construction in Auckland

by Richard Gladwell 26 Jul 2019 05:55 PDT 27 July 2019
A partially complete Hobson Wharf extension - location of the Luna Rossa base © Wynyard Edge Alliance

Auckland's Viaduct Harbour and surrounding area is a mass of construction activity at present with multiple projects under way related to the America's Cup facilities construction - with some nearing completion.

Sail-World's NZ Editor, Richard Gladwell took his camera to Auckland's Viaduct Harbour and surrounding area on Friday, to update on the progress with the multiple construction projects that will compromise the facilities for the 36th America's Cup.

Check the areas under development with the plan at the top of the image gallery which shows existing and new construction (except for the superyacht servicing facility).

Luna Rossa base - Hobson Wharf extension: The extension itself appears to be complete, work still ongoing on the deck ahead of being handed over to the team for base construction. A wave break has also been built, but more work to be done with piers for chase boats and race boats.

Emirates Team NZ base: Most noticeable work is the construction of piers for the race boats and chase boats. The viewing deck on the northern side is complete.

Wynyard Wharf and Point: There is a lot of work under way on Wynyard Wharf to enable the 100year old structure to carry the weight of AC75's and the gear required for launching. The access ways to allow the race boats to cross from the bases to the wharf are not yet constructed, some initial foundation work appears to be under way. The derelict zone between Wynyard and the now closed Brigham Street has been cleared of debris and the broken piles and structures.

On Wynyard Point a lot of construction is still under way on what was Brigham Street. The first two bases appear to be near finished and ready for hand-over to the teams to start construction of the base buildings and boat sheds.

Superyacht servicing facility: On the western side of Beaumont Street construction has begun on creating the superyacht servicing facility, which will take in the old Emirates Team NZ base area, Site 18 used by Southern Spars and Rig Pro for servicing superyacht masts, those two areas will be merged with the Orams yard to form a massive new facility. The marinas are also being extended.

Here's a pictorial update as to what is happening:

Related Articles

America's Cup: Luna Rossa's Challenge accepted
According to local media the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted by the Kiwis. Leading America's Cup journalist, Fabio Pozzo, reports that the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted for the 2027 Cup in Naples. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: ETNZ's design boss on new AC75 Rule
Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on recycled AC75 hulls, electric power and other rule changes. Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on the use of recycled AC75 hulls, the switch to full electric power, and other changes. He claims there is plenty of performance gain left in the AC75 for the designer teams. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: Class Rule and Tech Regs out
The America's Cup Class Rule and Technical Regulations for the Naples Match have been published With the clock ticking down to the start of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in Naples in 2027, the AC75 Class Rules and Technical Regulations have been issued to all teams and published with a focus on cost containment. Posted on 11 Sep
America's Cup: Running silent and deep, again.
A look at the flotsam that has surfaced as the Cup teams again go into deep and silent negotiation. A look at the state of the Cup - given the three weeks of silence since the hasty final Protocol signing. Previously a long deep dive by the teams has indicated that a lot of negotiation is underway. Here's what we've seen floating on the surface. Posted on 10 Sep
From The Other Side - The State of the Sport
The editors of Sail-World New Zealand and Inside Great Lakes Sailing discuss the state of sailing. The Editors of Inside Great Lakes Sailing and Sail-World New Zealand got together last week to shoot the breeze in an unscripted video discussion, without any pre-arranged "talking points" about various aspects of the sport. Posted on 5 Sep
Youth America's Cup set to continue in Naples
The Youth America's Cup is a sign-post to the future direction of the America's Cup itself. Since its inaugural event in 2013, the Youth America's Cup, designed as a competition for sailors under the age of 25, has always been the most remarkable sign-post to the future direction of the America's Cup itself. Posted on 4 Sep
America's Cup: Carlo's insights 1983-2024
Leading Italian lensman Carlo Borlenghi has been shooting the America's Cups for 41 years Carlo Borlenghi is the go-to photographer for many of the world's top sailing events and has covered every America's Cup since 1983 when he was assigned to the Azzurra team for Italy's first challenge. Posted on 30 Aug
America's Cup: A seismic shift for sailing
For the first time in its 174-year history, female sailors will be mandated onboard AC75s This week's announcement from the America's Cup felt momentous. For the first time in its 174-year history, female sailors will be mandated onboard AC75s at the pinnacle of our sport. Posted on 15 Aug
America's Cup: The Brave, New Protocol
The just announced Protocol for the America's Cup has many innovations and a few fish hooks The just announced Protocol for the America's Cup has many innovations, and maybe a few unintended consequences around the mandatory re-use of 2024 vintage AC75 hulls. Updated with a look at how the new Cup structure could work. Posted on 12 Aug
America's Cup: A "ground breaking" partnership
An innovative Protocol for the 2027 America's Cup has been agreed between RNZYS and RYS An innovative 11th hour Protocol for the 2027 America's Cup has been agreed between the Challenger of Record and the Defender. It creates a commercial framework for the current and future Cups, eases nationality rules, and has a quota for female sailors. Posted on 12 Aug
Selden 2020 - FOOTERDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOM