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All aboard for San Francisco

All aboard for San Francisco

Emirates Team New Zealand has not just left the building – they’ve taken it with them.

The team’s Wynyard Quarter base, home for the past three years, has been packed into more than 70 40-foot containers and is on the way to San Francisco, courtesy of team sponsor Maersk Line.

31 containers are already on the water, the balance will be leaving over the next month. The floating campaign, which includes a 12 metre chase boat, two 14 metre tenders, a hydraulic travel lift, three 40-metre-long masts and, of course, ETNZ’s two AC 72 catamarans, is expected to be up and running by May 23, allowing ETNZ five weeks testing and practice in the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay.

ETNZ boss Grant Dalton says Maersk is carrying everything ETNZ needs to set up a full working boatyard, from office furniture to a self-contained engineering workshop.

“A completely self-sufficient campaign is essential if we are to give ourselves the best shot at winning,” says Dalton.

The focus on every last detail is a big part of the ETNZ culture – and with good reason, says Dalton, who cites the 2007 regatta, when ETNZ lost the deciding race by one second, as a prime example of how small the gap between failure and success can be.

Maersk Line NZ's Dave Gulik says the company’s global network makes Maersk Line an ideal sponsor for an international regatta like the America’s Cup.

"We’re used to connecting New Zealand businesses with markets and customers around the world – and we’re used to carrying high value and highly specialised cargoes," says Gulik.

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“We’re delighted to put our expertise at ETNZ’s disposal, and free them up to concentrate on bringing back The Auld Mug.”

Dalton says while both boats, and all ETNZ team members, have had a “thorough workout” on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, he was looking forward to setting up shop in San Francisco Bay, which he describes as “a completely different proposition”.

“You’ve got narrow courses, and tides running at between four and five knots, which, combined with strong winds, creates a lot of chop and makes for tricky sailing,” says Dalton.

“Most of our guys have sailed San Francisco before, so they’ve got an idea of what to expect,” says Dalton.

“But, they’ve never sailed there in a 72: it’ll be a whole different ball game.”

 
For more information about Emirates Team New Zealand, visit www.emiratesteamnz.com, or warren.douglas@emiratesteamnz.com

ENDS

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