Photos: There's a real sting in Team NZ's keel

The bulb of Team New Zealand's America's Cup boat NZL84. Photo / Chris Cameron

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The skirts came off Team New Zealand's black boats in Valencia last night, revealing a Buzzy Bee and the New Zealand flag.

Unlike previous America's Cups, the 11 challengers and the defenders, Alinghi, have to drop the skirts on their boats before racing begins and are required to leave them off until the end of the regatta.

Team New Zealand started the bulb decoration tradition in 1995 with their now famous flames on NZL32. This time NZL84 sports a Buzzy Bee and NZL92 the national flag.

The syndicate chose the Buzzy Bee because every Kiwi could relate to it.

"It seems fitting that a simple wooden New Zealand toy should grace the bulb of a hi-tech America's Cup class yacht," said Emirates Team NZ managing director Grant Dalton.

The challenger series starts on April 16.

Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup and toyotadesktoptv.co.nz