Emirates Team NZL-84 and NZL-92 arrive in Valencia

After a two-day trip aboard the enormous Antonov cargo plane, NZL-84 and NZL-92, the two latest-generation yachts of Emirates Team New Zealand, arrived this morning in Valencia. At around 1pm the two boats that could eventually win the 32nd America's Cup arrived in their base at Port America's Cup and were tucked inside the team's boatshed, away from indiscreet eyes. Valencia Sailing was there to welcome and greet the two high-tech hulls.

Emirates Team NZ will try to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and, probably, the America's Cup with two boats in its amunition, NZL-84 and NZL-92.

NZL-84 was built in Auckland in 2005 and first launched there, just before Christmas of that year. At the beginning of 2006 she was transported to Valencia and relaunched in mid April. The kiwi America's Cup challenger raced with this boat during the whole 2006 season, finishing third in both Louis Vuitton Acts 10 and 11 and first in Louis Vuitton Act 12, where they clearly outperformed all other 11 teams, losing just 2 races out of 17. After the end of the northern hemisphere summer and racing activity in Valencia she was once again shipped back to Auckland where she was used during the team's two-boat training sessions, together with NZL-92

NZL-92 hasn't been used in official racing yet and in fact this is her maiden trip to Valencia. She was built in 2006 and launched in Auckland on October 19. Since that day, together with her older sisterhip NZL-84 they have been training extensively in the Hauraki gulf, spending six or more hours on the water, five or six days a week. Around ten days ago, the team finished their winter training in New Zealand and both yachts were flown to Valencia, arriving today morning.

According to the team, the shore crew will now prepare the two boats for sailing and the New Zealanders will resume their training on March 5, this time of course off Valencia's coast.

NZL-84 and NZL-92 about to enter the Emirates Team New Zealand base. Their identity is unclear to us, although it seems that NZL-92 is on the left and NZL-84 on the right. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

We haven't been able to unequivocally identify the two hulls and in order to avoid errors we will refer to them as Boat 1 and Boat 2, according to the order in which they entered the base.

Boat 1Judging from the form of her bow it is NZL-84, but again, we have no unequivocal proof.

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Boat 2This must be NZL-92, but again, we have no unequivocal proof.

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ boat. Valencia, 24 February 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing