Team New Zealand announced today that it will sail NZL-60, its newest International America’s Cup Class (IACC) boat, in defence of the America’s Cup. Team New Zealand represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the holders of the America’s Cup. The best-of-nine match race series starts on Saturday, 19 February.

Italy’s Prada Challenge, which won the Louis Vuitton Cup and the right to challenge the RNZYS on behalf of the Yacht Club Punta Ala, will race Luna Rossa (ITA-45). The Italians were required to declare their choice of boats prior to the Final round of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Under the Protocol for the 30th Match of the America’s Cup, the Defender and challenging syndicates were limited to building no more than two boats each. The Prada Challenge built Luna Rossa (ITA-45) and Luna Rossa (ITA-48). ITA-45 was launched in May 1999, and was only the second boat of the current crop of IACC boats to receive its sail number. The New Zealand defenders built Team New Zealand (NZL-57) and Team New Zealand (NZL-60). The latter was launched in mid-October, 1999, just five weeks after NZL-57. The only boat built and launched after that was the AmericaOne syndicate’s AmericaOne (USA-61).

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