America's Cup Update, Emirates Team New Zealand unveil AC72 no.2

From the following Sail-World article:

ETNZ unveil AC72 catamaran no.2

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Emirates-Team-NZ-unveil-second-AC72-in-Auckland-+-Video/106253

Emirates Team New Zealand christened their second AC72 in Auckland, this morning, in a simple ceremony including a Maori blessing of the waka, or canoe.

Strong winds prevented the official launch of the AC72, but she is expected to sail in Thursday.

As expected there was nothing radical about the boat, in terms of a departure from the base design developed for the teams first AC72, launched last July.

Rather the focus is on refinement in terms of drag reduction and efficiency in working systems. Team Managing Director, Grant Dalton told Sail-World that the bow and stern sections had been changed, but otherwise the objective was to reduce drag.

This is evidenced by a lot more fairing on key parts, including the under-platform structure which now features an Oracle style pod, but within that the same Y-truss system for load distribution has been used, as it was on the original boat.

read more here

From the following Sail-World article:

America's Cup: Images from Emirates Team NZ's launch in Auckland

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Images-from-Emirates-Team-NZs-launch-in-Auckland/106254

More photos from the launch day by Richard Gladwell


From the following Sail-World article:

America's Cup 2013 - New weapon unveiled

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-2013---New-weapon-unveiled/106264

America’s Cup 2013. Emirates Team New Zealand today unveiled its second AC72 with a low-key ceremony at the team’s Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, base.

Barely six months after the team’s first AC72 catamaran started testing the second boat was ready for the water, another significant milestone accomplished as the team prepares for its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup.

Auckland’s weather today did not co-operate. After weeks on bright sun and light winds, the city was overcast, wet, cool and windy.

The brisk north-easterly breeze was gusting to 28 knots and the team decided not to risk lifting the boat into the water after it was blessed by Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

read more here