America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ's AC75 arrives in Barcelona
by Emirates Team New Zealand 23 Jun 00:13 BST
Emirates Team NZ's AC75 raceboat, arrives in Barcelona - June 2024 © Emirates Team New Zealand
Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75 Taihoro has safely arrived at the team base in Barcelona after a 28-day journey travelling over 13,000 miles between the Port of Tauranga and the base in the Port of Barcelona.
Taihoro, its mast, chase boat and other important consignment was unloaded from the kiwifruit reefer Baltic Spring at the Port of Taragona and was trucked the 100km to Barcelona in the early hours on Friday morning.
Already the team are into their work preparing Taihoro for its maiden sail in Barcelona where they will join the 5 other AC75’s already familiarising themselves with the America’s Cup racetrack just off the Barcelona beachfront.
Meanwhile an ongoing consignment of sea and air fright continues between the Auckland and Barcelona bases, such as the teams two AC40’s racked and ready to ship from Wynyard Point.
Logistics is not small task in planning an America’s Cup campaign, it takes a full time focus and collaborative effort lead by Logistics Manager Andy Nottage especially in a current climate of shipping challenges globally.
“We are extremely lucky to have such great support with suppliers and partners like Maersk and Oceanbridge with the amount of shipping and logistics we do via air and sea. And obviously with Zespri and Cool Carriers who have been a huge ally in fast tracking our shipping direct from New Zealand to Spain which ultimately minimises our time off the water. And also the vital help from our Spanish shipping agent Yachtmoving who have been instrumental in clearing Taihoro from the port and to our base” said Nottage.
It is not all just about the boat, the team logistics involve shipments from tiny parts by courier requiring urgent signatures to over dimensional sized boats like Taihoro or the team chase boats, requiring specialised transport lifting gear and ship space.
New Zealand based international shipping business Oceanbridge’s relationship with Emirates Team New Zealand goes back many campaigns now as their Managing Director Bill Speedy explains, “Emirates Team New Zealand shipments move via part containers, full containers, as deck cargo via airfreight and sea freight not to mention the complexities involved with cross border requirements and temporary Customs entries to foreign countries. All this requires a willingness for close collaboration and especially flexibility to work with options typically out of the box. But it works and something that all parties are proud of, especially at moments like this when you see the teams AC75 Taihoro arrive at its ultimate destination in Barcelona where we will all be cheering on as they look to defend the America’s Cup once again.”
The arrival in Barcelona of Taihoro marks the start of a very intense 4 months for the team who are now all on their way to Barcelona also to join the advance party that have been working hard to prepare the base and its efficient operations over the past few weeks.
“We are ready and looking forward to the teams arrival,” said Andy Nottage.
“It actually has been a very efficient move north while minimising the time off the water for our sailing team who only finished up their intense two boat racing development block in Auckland last week. But now we are here, the team are eager to join the other AC75’s out on the water here in Barcelona."
With 60 days to go until the first race of the Preliminary Regatta on August 22nd the clock is well and truly ticking.