Auckland City Council - City Scene

The New Zealand National Maritime Museum has officially opened its new Courtyard Theatre and Entrance Gallery, which is running a series of films outlining the history of the America's Cup challenge series.

The multimedia Sony Theatre captures the passion of the cup experience for families, with films explaining the origin of the cup, the J-boat era, design technology and the controversial Lipton story. Each show starts with footage of a helicopter flyover taking the course, which is the closest most people will get to America's Cup racing!

A turnstile ushers visitors into the globe-shaped Courtyard Theatre, with Peter Montgomery's photographic tribute to New Zealand's historic America's Cup victory in San Diego, California. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a replica of the America's Cup.

A new display tells a story of the maritime history of New Zealand. The 'Sailing Kiwis' exhibition starts with a timeline which spans voyages from Hawaiki to today. The waka hall features New Zealand's historic craft, racing yachts and America's Cup yachts.

As well, there is a model boat collection belonging to Sir Michael Fay and the United States' Mystic Seaport Museum has loaned a model of the original 19th Century America's cup yacht "America".

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