Team New Zealand
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| Yachting Team New Zealand | |
 Yachting Team New Zealand |
|
| Yacht Club: | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron |
|---|---|
| Nation: |  New Zealand |
| Team Principal: | Grant Dalton |
| Skipper: | Dean Barker |
| Established: | 1987 |
| Victories: | Americas Cup; 1995 & 2000 Louis Vuitton; 1995 & 2007 |
| Sail Numbers: | NZL-84, NZL-92 |
Yachting Team New Zealand (TNZ) is an America's Cup sailing team which is based in Auckland and represents New Zealand. The team officially represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and they have become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995. In doing this, New Zealand became the first country outside the United States to successfully win and then defend the America's Cup (Australia won the cup in 1983/4 but failed to successfully defend it in 1987).
TNZ's success in America's Cup competitions has contributed to New Zealand's enviable reputation for producing world-class sailors and boat designers/innovators.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
[edit] 1987: KZ7 "Plastic Fantastic"
New Zealand began its quest for the "Auld Mug" 1984, when Marcel Fachler, a Belgian then living in Sydney, paid the US$ 16,000 for the challenge in Newport after Australia II's victory. Later Aussie Malcolm, a Government Minister, brought in Michael Fay[1].
1987 at Fremantle, Australia the Kiwi challenge advanced past the opening rounds, but ultimately was unsuccessful. Despite the lack of victory, the Kiwi challenge raised eyebrows because they pioneered the use of fibreglass on their boat KZ 7. This was the beginning of a long line of innovations New Zealand teams would bring to the America's Cup in the years to come.
[edit] 1988: Big Boat Challenge
The following year, Fay challenged American holder Dennis Conner. Fay worked with designer Bruce Farr and Tom Schnackenberg to build a gigantic monohull called KZ1 (or the Big Boat or Big Beauty). The boat was built by Steve Martin in Mt Wellington, Auckland and was launched on March 27, 1988.
Skippered by David Barnes with tactician Peter Lester, she was 23.47m along the waterline or 90ft, and was said to be the fastest monohull keelboat in the world at the time. However, Conner exploited the regulations to the fullest extent and built a catamaran. Conner beat KZ1 easily in every race, although Fay tried and failed to outlaw Conner's catamaran in court.
KZ1 can still be seen in the Viaduct Harbour Basin, Auckland, New Zealand
[edit] 1992: Bowsprit Scandal
Fay challenged again in 1992 with the distinctively red "NZL 20". In competition, Team New Zealand progressed through the regatta to the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup where they faced the Italian syndicate of Il Moro di Venezia. Leading 4-1 in the series, Team New Zealand were rocked by a successful protest by the Italians against NZL 20's innovative bowsprit. The result of the protest was that Team New Zealand were docked a race win (bringing the series score back to 3-1) and were required to remove the bowsprit. The New Zealand team never recovered from the enforced changes and blow to morale, losing the next 4 races and the series 5-3.
[edit] 1995: Black Magic
In 1995 TNZ stunned the world, beating Team Dennis Conner 5-0 in a "Blackwash" off San Diego, California after winning the right to challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The 1995 challenge had everything - the boat was fast (their winning yacht NZL 32 was nicknamed Black Magic), they had a smart crew led by skipper Russell Coutts, and they were ably led by Sir Peter Blake. Coining the famous phrase by sailing commentator Peter Montgomery, "The America's Cup is now New Zealand's cup!".
Both NZL 32 and NZL-38 were built under the supervision of Tim Gurr at the McMullen & Wing yard, Auckland, New Zealand and were launched in September 1993.
The winning yacht NZL 32 was shipped back to New Zealand as was gifted to Te Papa Museum. On May 1st 2008, It was announced by Prime Minister Helen Clark, that NZL-32 will become the new centerpiece to the Sir Peter Blake Memorial 'Blue Water Black Magic' in Auckland's National Maritime Museum on Hobson Wharf in the Viaduct Harbour. NZL-32 is to hung from the ceiling with numerous exhibits to surround her about Sir Peter's Life. This comes after years of debate on what to do with NZL-32, after a proposal by Auckland Mayon John Banks to encase the boat in a glass case, failed to attract any support. Construction on the memorial is likely to take place in June 2008 with completion in September 2009.
[edit] 2000: "Still New Zealand's Cup"
TNZ (NZL 60) beat Italy's Prada Challenge (Luna Rossa) 5-0 in the 2000 match held on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. On crossing the finish line in the final race, commentator Peter Montgomery exclaimed "The America's Cup is still New Zealand's cup!!" - echoing his comment in 1995 America's Cup.
[edit] 2003: "Loyal"; Defeat
In 2003, Team New Zealand's eight-year reign ended after they were defeated 5-0 by Swiss-based challenger Alinghi. TNZ dubbed their campaign the "Loyal" campaign, featuring a Silver fern flag with the word "Loyal" and a song of the same name by New Zealand musician Dave Dobbyn. This was largely due to the Swiss boat featuring many of the afterguard members from TNZ's previous campaigns (notably Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth) which, along with a fast boat and a lack of reliability aboard TNZ's NZL 82, contributed to the win.
[edit] 2007: Emirates Team New Zealand
In 2007, the re-branded Emirates Team New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton Cup and advances to the 32nd America's Cup against defenders Alinghi. Team New Zealand lost to series 2 - 5 to Alinghi, the last by a single second.
[edit] Valencia
In late 2003, TNZ announced their intention to challenge Alinghi at the 2007 Valencia America's Cup, with Emirates on board as title sponsor, and Grant Dalton as Team Boss. Dean Barker skippers a more international team than ever before. TNZ are among the "big four" syndicates leading up to the 2007 Cup. The big four consists of TNZ, Alinghi, BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa.
In the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup to select the challenger to face Alinghi, TNZ lost their first match to Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, a team who they had beaten in each of their five encounters in the Louis Vuitton Acts. They then won their next 7 races, before losing the final two in round robin 1 to Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle Racing which put them in third place at the end of the first round robin. In Round Robin 2, Team New Zealand were undefeated throughout, taking first place from BMW Oracle Racing. They won their semi-final 5-2 series against Desafío Español 2007 and qualified for the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 against Luna Rossa. In the finals, they defeated Luna Rossa with a whitewash victory of 5-0, winning the Louis Vutton Cup and the right to challenge Alinghi for the America's Cup.
On July 3rd 2007, Emirates Team New Zealand lost their final race to Alinghi bringing Alinghis race wins to 5, successfully defending the 32nd America's cup.
Americas Cup...
Race 1: Lost to Alinghi By 35 Seconds
Race 2: Beat Alinghi By 28 Seconds
Race 3: Beat Alinghi By 25 Seconds
Race 4: Lost to Alinghi by 30 Seconds
Race 5: Lost to Alinghi by 19 Seconds
Race 6: Lost to Alinghi by 28 Seconds
Race 7: Lost to Alinghi by 1 Second
Race 8: Not Needed July 4
Race 9: Not Needed July 5
[edit] Yachts Used by Team New Zealand
NZL 32 - "Black Magic" International America's Cup Class. 1995 Americas Cup Winner
NZL 38 - "Black Magic II" International America's Cup Class. 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup Winner
NZL 57 - International America's Cup Class. Training Boat for 2000 Defence
NZL 60 - International America's Cup Class. 2000 Americas Cup Winner
NZL 68 - International America's Cup Class. Training Boat bought from Illbruck Challenge (formerly GER 68)
NZL 81 - International America's Cup Class. Training Boat for 2003 Defence
NZL 82 - International America's Cup Class. Americas Cup defender in 2003 but defeated 5-0. Used for Louis Vuitton Acts in preparation for the 2007 America's Cup and won the 2004 season.
NZL 84 - 2007 generation International America's Cup Class. Launched in 2006. Won 2006 Louis Vuitton Season
NZL 92 - 2007 generation International America's Cup Class. Launched in October 2006. Won the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup. Lost the Americas Cup 2-5.
[edit] References
- ^ The Man Who Started It All, 2007-06-22, Access: 2007-06-26.
[edit] External links
- Official Website of Emirates Team New Zealand
- Peter Lester NZ yachting commentator
| Syndicates competing in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup |
|
+39 Challenge | Areva Challenge | BMW Oracle Racing | China Team | Desafío Español | |
