Team New Zealand building up the testing of its new boat

Team New Zealand testing the new boat, NZL 82 while round-robin two gets underway in the Louis Vuitton Cup

24 October 2002
There has been a sneak preview of Team New Zealand's new boat for the America's Cup challengers.

NZL 82 has been taken out for its first testing session on the Hauraki Gulf, in the shadow of the Louis Vuitton Cup races.

Team New Zealand designer Tom Schnackenberg says the challengers wouldn't have noticed too much difference, with any changes being very subtle.

He says the changes can also be masked by using a different rig or different appendages as well.

Team New Zealand is slowly building up to speed in its new boat.

Schnackenberg says they can't sail it flat out straight away, because it will stress the new components too much.

And Prada is putting its upset win over Oracle down to good luck, as much as good management.

The Italians, with their new-shaped bow, enjoyed a successful first day back in the Louis Vuitton Cup- they began the day by finally completing their round robin race with Mascalzone Latino at the fourth attempts - Prada took that out comfortably.

Then Prada beat Oracle by nearly two minutes.

Skipper Francesco de Angelis says it's never easy at this time of year, with light then strong winds, and even when the sea breezes come through it's still hard.

de Angelis says things just went their way and they were lucky with a couple of wind shifts which Oracle didn't pick.

The other winners yesterday were Alinghi which thrashed Le Defi Areva by nearly six minutes, GBR which overcame Stars and Stripes by 46 seconds, and One World, which survived an early scare to beat Mascalzone by four minutes and one second.

One World and Alinghi lead with eight points while Prada, GBR and Oracle all have five.

There should be enough puff for racing to continue today in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Northeasterlies rising to 15 knots are forecast this afternoon for the Hauraki Gulf.

The feature race today sees Alinghi against One World.

Also racing today, the French take on Victory Challenge, Mascalzone Latino front up to Oracle, while Prada is back on the water against Stars and Stripes.

© 2010 NZCity, IRN