Core Builders of Warkworth, New Zealand, the company responsible for the legendary design that won the 2010 America’s Cup, launched the much anticipated AC45 racing catamaran in Auckland Harbour this week. The sleek and swift AC45 received rave reviews from the international sailing community on hand to participate in the launch.
The AC45 catamaran, a scaled-down version of the boats to race in the next America’s Cup, has been aptly nicknamed the “little sister with attitude”. The high-tech, wing-sailed catamaran is the first of 10 to be constructed by Core Builders in the next six months. The goal is to sail the cutting edge builds in a series of Cup pre-regattas, which have been rebranded the “America’s Cup World Series”, scheduled for June or early July this year.
Oracle skipper James Spithill was at the helm on the maiden voyage, while internationally renowned members of the racing community gathered dockside to witness the event including America’s Cup principal race officer Harold Bennett, Americas’ Cup veteran and sailing TV commentator Peter Lester, and Andy Hindley, of America’s Cup Race Management. According to reports, all were extremely impressed with the speed and agility of the AC45 and forecast a winning future for the Americas Cup.