Team New Zealand has launched its upgraded racing yacht called Taihoro. It was announced in Auckland on Monday as the team begins preparations to defend the America’s Cup in Naples in 2027.
The boat was revealed at the team’s base at Wynyard Point and will soon return to the water for testing. Taihoro is the same AC75 yacht that helped the team win the last competition in Barcelona, but it has been carefully updated to meet the rules for the 38th America’s Cup.
Team chief executive Grant Dalton said the boat may look very similar from the outside. However, he explained that many important changes have been made inside the design. The competition rules require teams to keep the same main hull from the previous race to control costs. Because of this rule, designers were only allowed to make changes in three main areas.
The team rebuilt parts of the cockpit so the crew can work more easily under the new racing rules. Engineers were also allowed to rebuild small parts of the hull using different materials to make it stronger or lighter. Other changes were added to improve how air flows around the boat, helping it move faster.
Head of design Dan Bernasconi said the hull shape is less important than many people think because these yachts spend much of the race flying above the water on special foils. He explained that the biggest performance improvements often come from the foils, sails and control systems. Bernasconi added that the racing is expected to be even closer between teams in the next America’s Cup.
Team New Zealand hopes these upgrades will help them win a record fourth title in a row.
