Yachting: Germany's cup hopes arrive

The German America's Cup team Illbruck have arrived in Auckland on board a round-the-world yacht.

The Illbruck syndicate, who are also entered in next year's Volvo Ocean Race, took 12 days to sail their Volvo 60 from Perth to Auckland in a training run.

Six New Zealanders were on board the boat, skippered by American John Kostecki, who will lead the first German cup challenge.

The boat will make a return trip to Auckland next month, when it starts in the Sydney-Hobart race and continues across the Tasman with four other Volvo Race yachts in a rehearsal of a leg in the real race.

During the 3270-mile training run, the boat reached a top speed of 30 knots, and suffered a string of minor breakages.

Herald Online feature: America's Cup