Design boss says NZL82 set for battle

By JULIE ASH

Emirates Team New Zealand design co-ordinator Andy Claughton believes NZL82 is ready to take on Alinghi and Oracle in the first of the America's Cup class regattas in September.

The yacht, which broke down twice during the last cup, has spent the past few months being strengthened.

An independent report into why the black boats failed was carried out but due to its sensitivity was never made public.

"There are no mysteries about what happened during the America's Cup," Claughton said.

"We understand the boat a lot more now than when we built it."

NZL82 will be shipped to Europe early next month. Work has already begun on its sister yacht NZL81. The former illbruck yacht GER68, which has been lent to the syndicate, arrives next month.

After this year's regattas, the yachts must be modified to comply with the new version of the America's Cup class rule, which set stringent design criteria.

Some key changes are that the length of the keel is slightly increased, the bulb lighter and the masts slightly different.

For the Team New Zealand boats, it means the removal of the hull appendages (hulas) which are banned.

But syndicates are allowed to change only 60 per cent of their boats.

Claughton said the illbruck boat would be easier to change into the new version and the syndicate might consider altering it as opposed to one of the black boats.

"The jury is still out on that one."

The design team have had several meetings since November and will be based permanently in Auckland from mid-October.

The syndicate hope to launch the first of their two new 2007 boats by November next year.

"I don't feel we have lost a great deal by not starting earlier," Claughton said.

"The big challenge is to make sure we don't miss any good ideas."