In preparations for the America´s Cup in September 2013, the ORACLE Racing team has intentions to start its 2013 training program in the New Zealand´s newest port facility situated at Marsden Point, Northland.
Marsden Point in Northport, New Zealand
Northport is a deep-water commercial port situated at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour, making it the northernmost multi-purpose port in New Zealand. The nearby city of Whangarei is among the 12 largest in New Zealand with a population estimated at more than 52,000.
The locale was selected for reasons including its close proximity to Core Builders Composites in Warkworth, about an hour’s drive to the south. CBC is building many of the key components for ORACLE Racing’s two AC72 wingsail catamaran yachts while the hulls are being built at the team base in San Francisco, per the rules for the Cup.
Northport also has ample shore space and easy access to open waters, where the team can test its two AC72’s. ORACLE Racing’s training is scheduled to begin mid-January 2013 and run through the end of April.
The full sailing team will be on site as well as the full support/shore team. The team plans to erect a tent on site measuring 70m by 40m that will be the main onshore facility to support the trialing of the AC72 yacht.
ORACLE Racing expects to launch its first AC72 this summer from its base at Pier 80 in San Francisco. Under the cost containment rules of the America’s Cup the team can sail that boat for only 30 days from its launch date through Jan. 31, 2013. On Feb. 1 teams are permitted to launch a second AC72 and may sail each yacht 45 days through Apr. 31, 2013.
ORACLE Racing’s first AC72 yacht will undergo tests on San Francisco Bay after its launching. Later this year it’ll be shipped to Northport where it’ll join the second AC72 for two-yacht testing beginning in February.
ORACLE Racing Fact Sheet
WHAT: ORACLE Racing 2013 Training Session
WHERE: Northport, Marsden Point, New Zealand
WHEN: Sailing Team: mid-January 2013-April 2013 Shore/Operations Team: November 2012-April 2013
WHO: Members of ORACLE Racing will join together in New Zealand beginning in January 2013 for an intense training session with the team’s two AC72 wingsail catamarans in preparation for the 2013 America’s Cup.
The Shore and Boatbuilding teams will begin arriving by the end of October, 2012, to commence set-up of the team base at Northport, which will include a tent measuring 70m x 40m.
The Sailing Team will arrive in full by mid-January, 2013, to begin the testing program that is scheduled to run through the end of April.
After the training session the team will disband the remote operation and reassemble at the team base, Pier 80, in San Francisco, USA.
WHY: Marsden Point was selected for a number of reasons:
– Close proximity to Core Builders Composites in Warkworth, about an hour’s drive to the south. CBC is building many of the key components for ORACLE Racing’s two AC72 wingsail catamarans
– Ample shore space to erect an operations tent
– Easy access to open waters, where the team can test its two AC72 catamarans which will be used in the defense of the 2013 America’s Cup in San Francisco
ABOUT:
– ORACLE Racing was founded on Aug. 11, 2000, by team owner Larry Ellison
– On Feb. 14, 2010, ORACLE Racing won the 33rd America’s Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Swiss defender Alinghi
– Age 30 at the time of victory, skipper James Spithill (AUS) is the youngest skipper to ever win the America’s Cup (b. June 28, 1979)
– CEO/Afterguard Russell Coutts (NZL) is an Olympic Gold medalist and the most successful skipper in the history of the America’s Cup. He is undefeated, 14-0, in races for the America’s Cup and has won the Cup four times for three different countries (New Zealand (twice), Switzerland and the U.S.).
