Team New Zealand have passed a milestone in their quest to win back yachting's biggest prize, but syndicate boss Grant Dalton remains nervous about the journey to the America's Cup.
Team NZ launched their second giant wing-sail AC72 catamaran in Auckland on Monday, although plans to put it in the water were postponed until later this week because of strong winds.
The boat, named New Zealand Aotearoa, is the one they will campaign in San Francisco in the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers' series beginning in July and, hopefully, in the big showdown with defenders Oracle Racing in September.
Dalton says it's a definite advance from their first AC72, with some "quite dramatic" changes that might not be evident to the lay person.
However, the introduction of a new class of boat for the latest edition of the 162-year-old America's Cup brings its anxieties.
"It's such an evolving class and we don't have the answers - we just got a version of the answer," Dalton said.
"We're going to remain incredibly nervous. We know what we know, but we don't know what they [the opposition] know, and they don't know what we know either, so I guess, no one really knows."
Still, Team NZ is on track with their programme and have avoided the setbacks like the one that struck Oracle in October when they capsized their boat, causing major damage and delays.
However, Dalton is quick to play down suggestions that Team NZ, who managed to get in the full quota of 30 days' sailing permitted with their first catamaran, have built up a significant advantage.
"No, we are not way ahead at all," he said.
"If nothing else, we're going to lose five weeks shipping to `San Fran'. Any gains we make from our summer, we're going to give back."
He also said Team NZ needed to understand the conditions in San Francisco better, describing their venue knowledge in regattas there last year as "average".
The launch ceremony included a Maori blessing from members of Ngati Whatua Orakei, after which Mandy Barker, wife of skipper Dean Barker, christened the catamaran with champagne.
The boat is now expected on the water for the first time on Thursday.
The crew will do testing off Auckland, including lining up against Italian challengers Luna Rossa, until April before the catamaran is transported to California.
NZN
