Team New Zealand has offered a sneak peek of its America's Cup boat in Auckland today ahead of the official launch next week.
The 23m monohull was wheeled out of the team's Wynyard Point base to have its rigging checked in preparation for its launch and first sail.
Built over 10 months, the AC75 — for the 75ft length in the old measure — boat had been secretly moved at night from the team's North Shore facility to Wynyard Point where a fit out programme was undertaken.
Team NZ chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge said the big reveal was a "significant moment" for any team.
"So much of any America’s Cup campaign goes on behind closed doors and with the utmost secrecy protecting designs and plans but there always comes a time when you need to show some of your cards.
"Although what we have revealed today is not all of our cards, it sure gives everyone an indication of our design path."
The launch next week should reveal more about he design innovations Team NZ has made to create the fastest AC75 possible.
"We have had today in the calendar for a long long time as the date that we would wheel the boat out to step the rig, and it is always critical to be hitting these important milestones, which obviously take a huge amount of dedication, commitment and hard work by the entire team.
"So it is a proud day, but we still have a mountain to climb over the next seven months to successfully defend the America’s Cup in October — so, plenty more ahead of us which as a team we are looking forward to."
Team NZ would be defending the America's Cup with their AC75 in Barcelona in October.
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