Well done on a sterling
@americascup
campaign
@INEOSTEAMUK
. You kept everyone guessing and fought until the end. The best of British competitiveness, determination and humility.
Te Aihe flies.
It is always a very special moment for the team see a boat rise up out of the water for the first time.
The first of many significant boxes to tick. Early days.
How not to do it.
Watch Te Aihe have a slow speed capsize on the Auckland Harbour today.
When it goes over it’s best to get back on the horse (or dolphin) and back into testing.
"Te Aihe", the first AC75 to touch the water, is a product of not just Emirates Team New Zealand, but the collective whānau of sponsors, partners and every single person who helped us get to this point. It's been a long journey, and it’s only just beginning.
Statement from Emirates Team New Zealand:
While retrieving the AC75 from sailing today the crane failed while lifting onto its cradle and landed heavily.
All team members are safe.
The extent of the damage will have to be assessed as soon as possible.
It takes a whole team, builders, designers, engineers, sponsors, partners, families and more to build a boat.
A massive 🙏 to every single one. We couldn't do it without you.
After today's incident, the team successfully got our AC75 'Taihoro' back in the shed and are working through the night to assess the damage and make an effective repair plan.
Hear from Emirates Team New Zealand Skipper Peter Burling, after Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's victory in the Prada Cup Final, sealed their place as The Challenger, in The 36th America's Cup Match.