Yikes! New Zealand's Sailing Vessel Takes a Tumble During Lift Mishap. The Damage Assessment Rolls On.
In a turn of unfortunate events, New Zealand's highly anticipated sailing yacht, Taihoro, suffered a blow during the lifting process in Barcelona. The supposedly smooth operation saw the AC75-type yacht plummet a whopping six meters onto its cradle, which unfortunately couldn't bear the sudden impact. Team Lead, Grant Dalton, described the incident as, "It sounds like an explosion went off." Luckily, the crew members were unscathed during the dramatic event.
The damaged vessel is currently under close examination through the night, with a primary focus on assessing the affected electronics. Dalton expressed concern, "I'm certain this setback will delay our competition participation for a while, but fortunately, the mast somehow avoided any major damage." The regulations state that only a single new yacht per team is permitted during the 37th America's Cup, meaning the New Zealanders will have to wait before making their entry in the challenger round.
Although the accident doesn't directly affect the competition in terms of scoring points, as New Zealand is already the defending champions and thus automatically makes it to the finale, the remaining five competitors will now struggle for a spot 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 America's Cup races is scheduled to start on October 12.
Day One's Shining Moments
While New Zealand grapples with the aftermath of the accident, Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Ineos Britannia, and France's Orient Express Racing made their presence known on the first day. Each team secured a victory point. The light winds in Barcelona led to some unexpected outcomes. In the opening encounter, France's Orient Express triumphed over the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing, securing a superior launch, swifter vessel, and the first victory point. During the second clash, Italy's formidable Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli put immense pressure on the reigning champions, New Zealand, in the starting phase. However, the Italian team succumbed to the Kiwis' superior strategy before the crane incident. In the third skirmish, the US boat Patriot encountered tangle issues close to the start, while Ineos Britannia built up momentum. In an intense final stretch, the Americans struggled against the clock despite their impressive speed. In the fourth battle of the day, the French lost to the unrelenting Italians, despite their valiant efforts. The challenger round continues on Friday with four more of the 30 battles in the double round-robin round, in which each team confronts every other team twice.
Now, the fate of New Zealand's AC75-type yacht lies in the hands of the repair team as they work diligently to nurse the vessel back to its fighting form in time for the America's Cup competition.
In the midst of this setback, various other teams continue to shine in Barcelona, such as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Ineos Britannia, and Orient Express Racing.
Dive Deeper:
- The legends and symbolism behind the successful yacht's voyage: "3-Pete"
- A reflection on rivalry and success: Dortmund's march to the European Cup Finals
- Schröder's tireless endeavors for personal advancement: "Everything for the Flag"
- Athletic prodigies from the sports world: Littler's historical precedents
[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
