Emirates Shows off Wing

AMERICAS CUP – Our report from Auckland as Emirates Team New Zealand roll out their towering wing sail and brand new AC72 catamaran:

 
Office workers on their way to work stopped in their tracks around the Auckland Viaduct as Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC72 wing rose above its base and hung in the early morning air.

 
The operation appeared to go very smoothly. The wing rolled out of its tent enclosure shortly after 7am and around 8am the hulls came out of their separate enclosure to be united for the first time.

 
As the wing was slowly lowered onto the main beam, spectators across the water burst into spontaneous applause. A live-aboard cruiser on a small catamaran moored directly opposite the Emirates Team New Zealand base, whooped and hollered in delight. “Man, that is so cool,” he exclaimed.

 
In the still air of an Auckland mid-winter morning, the wing was a thing of grace, hanging in the low sunlight and stirring to even the slightest movement in the air.