3.45pm
As if on cue the sunshine broke through to shine down on USA71, the first new boat for America's Cup challenger Oracle Racing, during a relaxed ceremony at the syndicate's Auckland base today.
Dressed in typical christening garb of a long, gray 'skirt', USA71 was given her first taste of the Waitemata Harbour, lowered into the Viaduct Basin in front of Oracle Racing Team members and their families.
But the skirt did not hide the boat's striking appearance - a charcoal grey hull with the brilliant red Oracle logo adorning both sides of her bow.
Oracle Racing's legal counsel, Melinda Erkelens, performed the traditional act of breaking a champagne bottle across USA-71's bow with aplomb, cracking the bottle on her first attempt.
Bill Erkelens, Oracle Racing's Chief Operating Officer, was dockside to support his wife as she christened the new boat and then toasted the team.
"USA-71 is the result of teamwork at its best. I am excited about all that this talented group of people here today has accomplished. We are a part of something new, dynamic and progressive, this boat is cool."
John Cutler, Oracle Racing's sailing operations manager, said the launching marked another milestone in the quest to win the America's Cup.
"USA-71 is a visible result of the teamwork , commitment and dedication from everyone at Oracle Racing," Cutler said.
Oracle Racing's Sailing Team Manager, Peter Holmberg also paid tribute to the collaborative efforts of the Oracle Racing Team.
"It takes a lot of professionals, and in Oracle Racing's case, 142 talented and highly specialised individuals who are all trained in many facets to get all the pieces of the campaign moulded together. Today we are here to thank our team as well as pay tribute to our families and friends who support us each and every day," Holmberg said.
In the afternoon, the Oracle Racing Sailing Team headed out onto the Hauraki Gulf to tune the new boat.
USA-71 is the first of two boats built for Oracle Racing's assault on the America's Cup.
Next month, the second boat, USA-76, will be shipped to Auckland from California, where both of Oracle Racing's America's Cup Class (ACC) sailboats were built.
The Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series, begins October 1.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Oracle racing launches its first new boat
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