Black boat slips in under cover of darkness

By JULIE ASH

The first of the new black boats built to defend the America's Cup rolled out of the boat yard last night under a cloud of secrecy.

NZL81 was trucked from Cookson's boatyard on Auckland's North Shore to the Team New Zealand base - a journey of just 7km.

Carefully wrapped, the hull of the yacht was well hidden from prying eyes.

Crossing the Harbour Bridge well after 8pm, the black boat blended into the Auckland night.

Team New Zealand syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg said the boat was transported at night partly to elude observers and traffic.

"We wanted to avoid dramas."

That is something that hasn't always happened in the past. In the last campaign NZL57 got stuck in mud, was almost banned from crossing the Harbour Bridge and then got jammed in the branches of a tree.

In 1995 NZL32 fell into mud as it came out of the builder's yard. However, the boat went on to win the America's Cup off San Diego, beating Dennis Conner 5-0.

"I guess that shows mishaps don't necessarily mean a lot," laughs Schnackenberg.

Schnackenberg said it would be at least a further two weeks before NZL81 was launched.

"We have to finish painting the logos, get it measured, put on the fittings - the rig, tracks, lines and hydraulics.

With just 54 days until the start of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series Schnackenberg said it was an exciting time for all the syndicates as the countdown to February's 31st defence of the America's Cup continued.

"There is a lot happening up and down the road," he said. "It is a very exciting time not only for us but for everyone."

Team New Zealand's second boat, NZL82, is expected to be completed in four to eight weeks.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup