America’s Cup timeline at Emirates Team New Zealand HQ

Based in the redeveloped Wynyard Quarter,  just over the bridge from the Viaduct Harbour, is this nice potted history of the America’s Cup.

Wynyard Quarter has very quickly become a thriving part of Auckland, with bars and restaurants, excellent fish market, and plenty of space to explore for the kids.

CAMPER arrives in Cape Town.

Chris Nicholson nursed CAMPER through a rough night and a late morning scare before the team made it back to second place and a series of ecstatic family reunions.

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand leaped to second place in the overall standings, two points behind Leg 1 winners Team Telefónica, after negotiating 6,500 nautical miles of sailing that was relatively trouble free before the last few hours.

Read the full story: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/A-rough-ride-home-and-a-joyful-welcome/4213/news.html

Well done guys from everyone at Explore NZ!

Volvo Round the World Race stopover in Auckland

The yachts should be in Camper Emirates Team New Zealand’s home port 8-18th March 2012.

Visit the official web site: http://www.volvooceanraceauckland.com/

You will find a cool 3D video flyover of the Viaduct Harbour showing how the Race Village will look.

You’ll get amazing views of the yachts as you go out on our trips!

Emirates Team New Zealand

If you are keen yachties like us then you’ll want to keep abreast of all the latest news on the Extreme 40′s America’s Cup pre-racing regattas and the Volvo Round the World Race.

Visit the Emirates Team New Zealand blog: http://etnzblog.com/#!news

America’s Cup World Series Testing in Auckland

In preparation for the 2011/2012 America’s Cup World Series, Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour is hosting two testing sessions. The testing will run between 26th – 29th April and 2nd – 6th May. The first session allows course configurations, umpires and race management the chance to get to grips with the new boat so they can make instant calls during the competition. The second session will give broadcasters their first chance to test new techniques that will revolutionize the way we watch sailing on television.

Six of the 10, new generation wing sailed AC45 catamarans will take part in the testing. The boats were built in Warkworth, New Zealand by Kiwi boat builders, Tim Smyth and Mark Turner of Core Builders Composites. They were designed to not only meet the racing criteria, but to also fit inside a 40 foot container, which is the shipping vessel for the America’s Cup World Series. The biggest challenge with multihulls is learning how much to anticipate the boats. They are capable of tripling the wind speed so the testing will allow everyone to sharpen their reactions and skills in time for the World Series.

3 AC45 boats leaving Auckland's Viaduct for testing.

 The America’s Cup World Series will consist of five nine-day regattas in 2011, finishing up with three more regattas by mid 2012. The event will bring America’s Cup racing and the America’s Cup experience to top international venues around the world. So far Cascais, Portugal, Plymouth, England and San Diego, USA have been chosen with the remaining schedule to be revealed by October 2011. Televised coverage will make it possible for millions of fans to watch both fleet and match racing at each event world wide.

To experience sailing on 1995 and 2000 generation boats, Sail NZ offer an America’s Cup Sailing Experience on the Waitemata Harbour. If you get the timing right you will be able to witness these training session up close and personal.