Team New Zealand has pulled out of the America’s Cup Challenger Series race scheduled for Saturday after their boat, Taihoro, was accidentally dropped on Friday.
The incident occurred when the boat was being lifted out of the water, causing it to fall several meters onto its cradle.
After an initial inspection, the team decided that more time was needed to fully assess the damage. Team New Zealand stated that Taihoro was secured with a portable crane and moved back to the shed for further evaluation. They will not be racing tomorrow, and the team plans to provide an update on repairs and their timeline after more assessments.
Team New Zealand’s chief executive, Grant Dalton, called the incident a setback but expressed the team’s dedication to repairing the boat. “These are the moments that can define an America’s Cup campaign,” Dalton said, praising his team’s hard work and commitment.
The incident came shortly after Team New Zealand defeated the Italian team Luna Rossa by just 12 seconds in their opening race of the Challenger Series. They were set to race against Britain’s Britania and France’s Orient Express next.
Team New Zealand, who are defending the America’s Cup in October, hopes to be back on the water soon.
