INEOS TEAM UK, the British Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, are getting ready for their big move to Auckland.
The Brits are based in Portsmouth, UK and will relocate to Auckland during the summer of 2020 in preparation for the cup. Up to 100 team members will be relocating with their families. For some it will be their first time visiting New Zealand, whereas others have spent time in the country during previous cup and sailing campaigns and are looking forward to returning.
Back in the UK, the team recently launched its first AC75 race boat, Britannia 1, and will launch its second AC75 race boat, Britannia 2, in 2020. The cutting-edge AC75s push the boundaries of innovation and technology like never before, setting the sailing world alight. From design and build to launch, over 90,000 design and 50,000 construction hours were completed to get Britannia on the water.
Ben Ainslie, “The quest to win the 36th America’s Cup has required a fresh approach and a new strategy. The AC75 class is really ambitious, it sets out a completely new type of boat and teams won’t stop pushing the technical boundaries right up until the last race.
“It’s going to be a hugely exciting cup on so many levels – the boats, the racing, the crowds. Auckland is a fantastic venue and we can’t wait to bring Britannia over to New Zealand.”
The cup originated in 1851 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert hosted the Great Exhibition to showcase the best of British technology and excellence to the world. They invited the New York Yacht Club to send over a vessel that would represent American shipbuilding prowess and compete against the British fleet in a race around the Isle of Wight.
After winning the trophy, the US embarked on what would become the longest winning streak in the history of sport, a 132-year stretch of domination. The cup has only been won by four nations in its history: US, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.
A British entry has never won the America’s Cup, a fact INEOS TEAM UK are challenging to change.
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