America's Cup: 'Go fast' parts on their way

A "go fast" package of rapidly-built boat parts is winging its way to Bermuda as Team New Zealand eyes the America's Cup challenger series final.

The parts are required in a hurry after several incidents in Bermuda during the challenger series - including last Wednesday's dramatic flip.

It's hoped Team NZ will receive its shipment early this week, with the state-of-the-art pieces intended to be part of a grudge showdown with rivals Oracle for the Auld Mug - should Team NZ be able to get past Swedish outfit Artemis for the right to race for the America's Cup.

Kiwi carbon fibre outfit C-Tech has been working massive hours to create new parts for Team NZ.

The Auckland-based company, which has been supplying cutting-edge carbon fibre gear to the racing syndicate for 15 years, has already sent the team a new rudder and on Friday shipped a batch of new fairings for the 2017 cup campaign.

"We originally made the fairings around the daggerboard case which were smashed in the capsize, so we've been rebuilding those and they got sent off yesterday," Alex Vallings, director of C-Tech told the Herald on Sunday.

"Right through the campaign we've been building stuff for them, the rudders, daggerboard, all the hydraulic systems around the case that control the angle of the daggerboard and a lot of tubing for the boat."

Vallings said he had not added up how many man-hours had gone into the work, but said his team of dedicated staff have crammed about four weeks' work into a matter of days.

"The fairings we've had about eight people working on it for the past few days," he said. "They're carbon panels made in a mould."

Vallings' company took to social media yesterday in a cheeky post to Team New Zealand, letting the Kiwi crew in Bermuda know the goods are on the way.

"The team at C-Tech has also been burning some midnight oil. A go-fast package will be winging its way to Emirates Team New Zealand soon," the Facebook post said.

Responding in kind, Team NZ saluted back with a message of appreciation to the C-Tech experts.

"Thanks for all of your hard work guys!! You are a vital part of the team. Keep it up!" Team NZ posted.

Vallings said Team NZ should wake in Bermuda tomorrow morning and have the delivery in hand, ready for fitting "during the week".

But first Team NZ must overpower Swedish rivals Artemis in the America's Cup challenger series final.

Vallings' 40-strong crew have been up to watch racing at 5am every day, before heading back to the grind in the workshop.