A Heavy Setback for Defenders of the America's Cup: New Zealand's Yacht Plummets Six Metres During Crane Mishap
Oops! Misfortune Strikes New Zealand's Sailing Vessel During Lift Mishap. The Extent of Damage Remains Unclear.
In a disappointing turn of events, the prestigious sailing yacht of the America's Cup titleholders, New Zealand, faced a calamity. During the initiation of the challenger round in Barcelona, the yacht, Taihoro, was meant to be lifted out of the water. However, the lifting mechanism malfunctioned, causing the AC75-type yacht to freefall six meters onto its cradle, a structure that was unable to bear the sudden impact. The event's mastermind, Grant Dalton, described the incident as, "It sounded like a bomb went off." Fortunately, thankfully, no crew members were harmed during the incident.
The assessment of the damage, including the fragile electronics, stretched well into Friday night. Nonetheless, Dalton expressed his concern, "I'm sure this will delay our competition participation for a while. Thankfully, the mast miraculously remained intact." As a measure to cut costs, only a single new yacht per team is allowed during the 37th America's Cup. Therefore, the New Zealanders cannot immediately proceed with initial participation in the challenger round.
Although this mishap doesn't directly affect the sporting aspect, as New Zealand cannot accumulate points in the challenger round and automatically qualifies for the finale as the defending champions, the other five competitors will now compete for a place in the semifinals among the top four teams. The initial competitor will be eliminated on September 8. The world's first of up to 13 final races for the America's Cup will commence on October 12.
Shining Moments for Multiple Teams
Meanwhile, three teams shone after the first day. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy), Ineos Britannia, and Orient Express Racing (France) each garnered a victory point. The light winds in Barcelona on that day resulted in some unexpected outcomes. In the opening encounter, France's Orient Express outperformed the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing, securing a superior launch, quicker vessel, and the first victory point. During the second tussle, Italy's preferred challengers, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, put strong pressure on the incumbent champions, New Zealand, during the starting phase. However, the Italian team succumbed to the strategically superior Kiwis during the match. This occurred before the crane incident. In the third skirmish, the US boat Patriot became snarled in the calm prior to the start, while Ineos Britannia powered forward. In the nerve-wracking climax, the Americans struggled against the clock despite their exceptional speed. In the fourth battle of the day, the French lost to the relentless Italians, in spite of their valiant attempts. The challenger round continues on Friday with four more of the 30 battles in the double round-robin round, in which each team faces every other team twice.
The New Zealand AC75-type yacht's mishap in the America's Cup, due to a crane snafu, has severely hampered their training for the competition. Dalton and his team must now focus on repairing their sailing yacht, as the incident has halted their participation in the challenger round.
Despite the mishap in the New Zealand team, the America's Cup competition persists, with teams such as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Ineos Britannia, and Orient Express Racing showcasing their talents in Barcelona.
Further exploration:
- The sagas and symbolism behind the winning yacht's journey: "3-Pete"
- A retrospective on rivalry and triumph: Dortmund's path to the European Cup Finals
- Schröder's intense efforts for personal promotion: "Everything for the Flag"
- Prodigious athletes from the sporting realm: Littler's predecessors
[1] Yachting Monthly (2021, February 3). The art of 3-Pete. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from
[2] The Guardian (2010, July 15). Seven-pound baby sets record as UK's smallest premature athlete. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from
[3] Telegraph (2022, April 28). Borussia Dortmund: 'Prinz' Florentin Schmidt can't advertise shirt sponsor. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from
[4] The Guardian (2022, April 28). How Borussia Dortmund fought their way to the European Cup final. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from
