New shape, new name for Team NZ’s second America Cup 2020 yacht

Team New Zealand’s new America’s Cup yacht has a sleek new concave shape and a new name: Te Rehutai, the Maori word for sea spray.

The new ship surprised and delighted a large crowd that lined the lookouts around the launch at Team NZ’s base in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbor tonight.

Boating enthusiasts Don Crawford and Tony Linford, who came to town from Beachlands to watch the launch, said the new ship looked “beautiful.”

“It’s a Formula I race car for the water,” Crawford said.

“It’s cutting edge, something New Zealand should be proud of,” Linford said.

Crawford said the boat was “much wider than I thought”.

Web designer Chester Elliott said the new boat looked “really cool.”

“It looks pretty aerodynamic,” he said.

“It’s definitely a big change from the first. I was expecting more refinement from the first boat, but it will be good to see it with the mast up and the rigging up.”

Structural engineer Dmitry Chernushkin called the new shape “impressive.”

“I think it will be quick,” he said. “The design looked beautiful, I think the most beautiful shape. I hope they win the competition.”

The ship’s hull has a distinct concave shape that is quite different from the more complete shape of the NZ team’s first ship for the 2020 contest, Te Aihe.

Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton told the crowd that the design process began with a blank sheet of paper.

“There was no concept,” he said. “We knew it had to be a monohull, but we couldn’t let the [catamaran] generation behind.

“We couldn’t find a person within Team NZ who believes that we have not exceeded what we think we would do.”

Team NZ Chairman of the Board Sir Stephen Tindall assured the crowd of the integrity of the board despite questionable financial reports.

“As you would have seen in the media, we have had a difficult year on several fronts,” he said.

“Let me assure you of our integrity in these matters and assure you that these distractions have not affected the sailors, the designers or our team in general.”

Tindall said New Zealand would not get the full economic benefit that was expected from the Cup due to Covid-19, but that the event would now be “for the benefit of the kiwis.”

“We will show our city and our country on the digital, video and television devices available around the world, and the transmission will be free in most countries,” he said.

“We are determined to make the AC36 the most spectacular Copa América in 150 years.”

He said designing the America’s Cup ship was “the most scientifically and technologically advanced” of his many investments, together with Rocket Lab.

He recognized the presence of Team NZ’s sponsor, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, and former Sports Minister Trevor Mallard.

The new Economic Development Minister, Stuart Nash, was late after meeting with tour groups in Rotorua.

Lady Margaret Tindall christened the yacht when it was lowered into the port of Waitematā to the cheers of the crowd and the horns of a nearby ship.