NZL 82
Encyclopedia
NZL 82 was a 2003-generation International America's Cup Class racing yacht. Raced by defenders Team New Zealand
(TNZ) in the 2003 America's Cup
Match , it was defeated 5-0 by challenger Alinghi
(SUI 64).
, there was an "exodus" of senior TNZ members who were lured by rich syndicates to join their challenges for the 2003 America's Cup. Most notable among these departures was that of Russell Coutts
and Brad Butterworth
to Swiss challengers Alinghi
.
These departures resulted in a lack of senior leadership at TNZ, which along with a relative lack of funds, caused the team to resort to radical design innovations in an attempt to defend the cup with raw boat speed alone.
. The defeat was largely due to NZL 82's lack of reliability.
The first race was sailed in a stiff breeze and choppy seas. NZL 82 retired due to multiple gear failures in the rigging and the low cockpit unexpectedly taking onboard large quantities of water. The end of the boom
snapped off due to increased stress caused by the weight of water in the boat. In addition the headsail
pulled out of the groove in the forestay foil, damaging it and preventing a new sail
from being hoisted.
Race 4 was sailed in strong winds and rough seas and NZL 82's mast
snapped on the third leg causing retirement.
On the third leg in race 5, NZL 82 broke a spinnaker pole
.
Alinghi's SUI 64 proved to be quicker and more reliable.
which were used as the build-up to the 2007 America's Cup. NZL 82 won the 2004 Louis Vuitton Season.
, Mexico. The boats, now owned and operated by Cabo Adventures, are set up so that the public has the opportunity to race the yachts off the Sea of Cortez / Pacific Ocean areas near Cabo San Lucas.
Both yachts have had engines installed in order to get them out off the Cabo San Lucas coast into the stronger breezes. Heavier sails have also been purchased and installed which will last much longer than the lighter, racing sails used in America's Cup racing.
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
(TNZ) in the 2003 America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
Match , it was defeated 5-0 by challenger Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
(SUI 64).
Background
After the successful 2000 defence in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, there was an "exodus" of senior TNZ members who were lured by rich syndicates to join their challenges for the 2003 America's Cup. Most notable among these departures was that of Russell Coutts
Russell Coutts
Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and...
and Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
to Swiss challengers Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
.
These departures resulted in a lack of senior leadership at TNZ, which along with a relative lack of funds, caused the team to resort to radical design innovations in an attempt to defend the cup with raw boat speed alone.
Design Innovation
NZL 82 was notable for its design innovations. The most controversial of these was the so-called "HULA" (Hull Appendage) - a flat appendage attached to the afterbody of the hull designed to increase waterline length (and therefore speed) without increasing the overall length of the boat. Another radical innovation was the keel bulb, which at approximately 7 metres in length, was over 2 metres longer than its competitors of the time.Disaster
TNZ's 2003 defense was completely ineffective, losing 0-5 to challenger AlinghiAlinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
. The defeat was largely due to NZL 82's lack of reliability.
The first race was sailed in a stiff breeze and choppy seas. NZL 82 retired due to multiple gear failures in the rigging and the low cockpit unexpectedly taking onboard large quantities of water. The end of the boom
Boom (sailing)
In sailing, a boom is a spar , along the foot of a fore and aft rigged sail, that greatly improves control of the angle and shape of the sail. The primary action of the boom is to keep the foot of the sail flatter when the sail angle is away from the centerline of the boat. The boom also serves...
snapped off due to increased stress caused by the weight of water in the boat. In addition the headsail
Headsail
A headsail of a sailing vessel is any sail set forward of the foremost mast. The most common headsails are staysails, a term that includes jibs and the larger genoa...
pulled out of the groove in the forestay foil, damaging it and preventing a new sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
from being hoisted.
Race 4 was sailed in strong winds and rough seas and NZL 82's mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
snapped on the third leg causing retirement.
On the third leg in race 5, NZL 82 broke a spinnaker pole
Spinnaker pole
A spinnaker pole is a spar used in sailboats to help support and control a variety of headsails, particularly the spinnaker. However, it is also used with other sails, such as genoas and jibs, when sailing downwind with no spinnaker hoisted...
.
Alinghi's SUI 64 proved to be quicker and more reliable.
Louis Vuitton Acts 2004-2006
NZL 82 was subsequently refined and competed in the Louis Vuitton ActsLouis Vuitton Acts
The Louis Vuitton Acts were a series of International America's Cup Class regattas leading up to the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup and 2007 America's Cup. Thirteen regattas or acts were held in total. These regattas involved all eleven challengers plus the holder of the America's Cup, Alinghi, and allowed...
which were used as the build-up to the 2007 America's Cup. NZL 82 won the 2004 Louis Vuitton Season.
2007 / 2008 Use
NZL 82 along with NZL 81 are both currently in Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Mexico. The boats, now owned and operated by Cabo Adventures, are set up so that the public has the opportunity to race the yachts off the Sea of Cortez / Pacific Ocean areas near Cabo San Lucas.
Both yachts have had engines installed in order to get them out off the Cabo San Lucas coast into the stronger breezes. Heavier sails have also been purchased and installed which will last much longer than the lighter, racing sails used in America's Cup racing.