BMW Oracle's USA-71 breaks mast in training

[Source: BMW Oracle] USA-71, one of BMW ORACLE Racing’s America’s Cup Class yachts, today suffered some damage to the mast while in a race training session on the Hauraki Gulf. No one on board was hurt and the damaged rig remained intact in the yacht and was towed safely back to the team’s base in the Viaduct.

USA-71 was racing in 15 knots of breeze downwind during an in-house training session when the top of the rig collapsed. USA 71 is now back at the base where the shore team is removing the rig for inspection of the damage.

“While unfortunate, we have been pushing these boats hard and that’s why we are here,” said Chris Dickson, BMW ORACLE Racing CEO and Skipper. “We would rather learn the lesson now than during the Louis Vuitton Cup when this sort of mishap could cost us a race. This was a race rig so we are disappointed as the piece that broke should not have broken, but we are pleased we discovered this weak link now during our race training. Sten Mohr, Bertrand Pace and the crew on board USA-71 today showed great seamanship by responding quickly, minimizing the damage and getting the boat and crew safely back to shore.”

BMW ORACLE Racing plans to continue race training with USA-71 and USA-98 on the Hauraki Gulf tomorrow. The team is training in New Zealand until 16 February.

BMW Oracle's USA-71 begins summer session in New Zealand

[Source: BMW Oracle] Auckland city residents and office workers were treated to a fine display of America’s Cup class sailing right on their doorstep today as BMW ORACLE Racing put USA 71 through its paces on the city waterfront.

Skipper and CEO Chris Dickson and the core sailing team left the team’s temporary base in the Viaduct Basin at 8am and, after a short tow out onto the harbour, hoisted sail and paraded up and down just a stone’s throw from the downtown office towers.

For more than an hour, the yacht went through its paces on the harbour as the crew ran a series of checks to ensure everything was functioning properly.

This was the first time USA 71 had sailed since being re-assembled in Auckland. The yacht was shipped direct to New Zealand after competing in the German Sailing Grand Prix in Kiel.

Following the two New Zealand America’s Cup regattas in 2000 and 2003, Aucklanders are well used to seeing the high-tech race yachts towed down the harbour on their way to the Hauraki Gulf. But it is much more unusual, although not unheard of, for the yachts to actually sail so close to the city.

After completing all the necessary checks, the yacht proceeded down the harbour, past the iconic red and white striped Rangitoto lighthouse and out into the Hauraki Gulf for further testing.

Brisk southwesterly winds, rising to 25 knots, greeted the sailing team and they were able to give the yacht a thorough shake-down in boisterous conditions.

USA 71 will be sailing regularly on the Hauraki Gulf up to the Christmas break as the BMW ORACLE Racing team conducts a summer training programme in New Zealand. After Christmas, the team will introduce a later generation yacht and double the 38-strong squad for an intense programme of two-boat training.

Also on the schedule, but still to be confirmed, is a series of races against Emirates Team New Zealand, which is also based in Auckland for the summer.

The summer work up is to continue preparation for the Louis Vuitton Cup series, which commences in Valencia in April.