Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

BRITANNIA takes flight in Auckland

by Nick Heemskerk 23 Oct 2020 01:29 PDT 23 October 2020
BRITANNIA takes flight in Auckland Harbour © C Gregory

On Friday 23rd October, BRITANNIA, INEOS TEAM UK's new race boat for the 36th America's Cup, took flight on her first sail out of the Waitemata Harbour.

After a full on week for the systems and shore team completing the final fit out, the British team was met by a 165 strong fleet of racing boats about to start New Zealand's largest coastal regatta 'The Coastal Classic' as they exited the Viaduct for their maiden sail.

Team Principal and Skipper Sir Ben Ainslie commented "It was great to be back out on Auckland waters, delivering perfect conditions for our first commissioning sail of BRITANNIA. A huge thank you to the whole shore team and in particular the systems team for their efforts to get us out on the water.

"The early performance indications were good, but we need to maximise our time on the water. The hard work continues."

BRITANNIA is a significant evolution from the team's first AC75 with noticeable changes to hull shape and deck layout. Each of the grinders now has their own individual forward facing fixed position, increasing the overall power output significantly from the RB1 set-up.

With 55 days until racing begins in the America's Cup World Series warm up regatta (Auckland, 17-20 December), INEOS TEAM UK need to make every second count out on the water.

Related Articles

Dylan Fletcher joins INEOS Britannia
The newest recruit to the sailing team Meet Dylan Fletcher, the newest recruit to INEOS Britannia's sailing team. Fletcher is an Olympic Champion in the Men's Skiff - 49er, winning at Tokyo 2020, as well as a three-time world champion in this discipline. Posted on 21 Mar
INEOS TEAM UK's 36th America's Cup campaign ends
As Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won both races in light wind today After four years of dedication, hard work, grit and hundreds of thousands of man hours from the 100+ strong team, INEOS TEAM UK's 36th America's Cup campaign came to an end today as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won both races in light wind. Posted on 21 Feb 2021
INEOS Team UK respect ACE position on Prada Cup
INEOS Team UK respect the decision communicated by ACE to delay the Prada Cup racing INEOS Team UK respect the decision communicated by ACE to delay the Prada Cup racing due to the current (SW: then Level 3, now Level 2) COVID-19 alert level in Auckland. Posted on 17 Feb 2021
Five out of five for INEOS TEAM UK
And into the PRADA Cup final With the Americans still in the shed getting ready for the Repechage, INEOS TEAM UK and LUNA ROSSA PRADA PIRELLI headed out onto the stadium course on the Hauraki Gulf for the penultimate day of the Round Robin stage of the PRADA Challenger Series. Posted on 23 Jan 2021
INEOS TEAM UK at the PRADA Cup Day 3
An eventful day on the Hauraki Gulf In a day that was saddened by the capsize of American Magic, the changeable weather on the Hauraki Gulf threw strong winds, shifts, rain and chop at the Challengers of the PRADA Cup. Posted on 17 Jan 2021
INEOS TEAM UK at the PRADA Cup Day 2
Staying on the foils to win in light winds The second day of the PRADA Cup Challenger Series brought very different conditions. Staying on the foils and picking the shifts were the themes of the day. Posted on 16 Jan 2021
INEOS TEAM UK at the PRADA Cup Day 1
Improved team performance leads to two opening wins The challenge for the 36th America's Cup officially began today with the start of the PRADA Cup, the Challenger Selection Series. The opening day of racing saw INEOS TEAM UK win both their races in perfect conditions on the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Posted on 15 Jan 2021
Racing begins, development continues
INEOS TEAM UK set as the PRADA Cup begins tomorrow in Auckland INEOS TEAM UK's challenge for the 36th America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, begins in earnest tomorrow with the PRADA Cup, the Challenger Selection Series. Posted on 14 Jan 2021
INEOS TEAM UK push to the leading edge of design
With Mercedes F1 Applied Science The 36th America's Cup is just around the corner and INEOS TEAM UK have recently launched their AC75 race boat 'BRITANNIA' in the host city of Auckland, with the design raising plenty of talking points on the dock and online. Posted on 29 Oct 2020
INEOS TEAM UK christen 'Britannia'
The boat the team will race in the America's Cup INEOS TEAM UK has officially christened their America's Cup race boat 'Britannia' from the team's base in Auckland, New Zealand, three months before the start of racing for the 36th America's Cup. Posted on 16 Oct 2020
Hyde Sails 2022 One Design SALE FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - Equilibrium 728x90px BOTTOMSOUTHERN-SPARS-MISSY-FURLING-BOOMS-728-X-90 Bottom