"Long time since I've seen a long keeler in the America's Cup." This was just one of hundreds of comments on social media that followed the pictures and videos published on Friday evening by Ineos Team UK of the christening of the new Cup yacht with the name "Britannia", already familiar from its predecessor. "Looks like a trimaran" was the slogan, as was "Bring the Cup home" again and again. It was clear at first glance that the second British design of the new Cup generation looked very different from the first attempt. This was similarly recognisable the day before, when the Americans presented their follow-up version for the challenger round of the 36th America's Cup, the "Patriot", also in Auckland. However, the American changes were not initially quite as striking as those of the British. On the other hand, experience has shown that it is doubtful that the latest christening ceremonies for the British and Americans showed exactly what the teams will actually be racing with later on.
The key data published on the creation of the new "Britannia" is impressive: 46,000 construction hours and more than 90,000 design hours have gone into the radical projectile. In addition, between 75,000 and 100,000 CNC machine hours. 17,300 individual parts make up the boat with which Sir Ben Ainslie and his team - still winless 169 years after the America's Cup premiere in home waters and extremely hungry for the oldest trophy in international sport - want to open the hunt for the ornate silver jug in the Prada Cup from 15 January 2021. Before that, the Christmas race, the only remaining regatta in the America's Cup World Series after the cancellations due to coronavirus, will take place in the Cup region from 17 to 20 December.
The British have announced that they expect top speeds of more than 50 knots for their new yacht. Upwind, "Britannia" is expected to be 30 knots fast, reaching the mid or high 40s downwind. The eleven-strong crew can weigh a maximum of 990 kilograms in total. Nobody in the team is under any illusions about how difficult it will be to even reach the 36th America's Cup duel against the American and Italian challengers and then win against the New Zealand defenders. "It will be as hard as trying to beat the All Blacks on their home soil," said four-time Olympic champion and "Britannia" skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, alluding to the Kiwis' world-class rugby team.
All Cup teams still have two months to prepare their flying AC75 yachts for the first sabre-rattling in the New Zealand Cup area. Which led Ainslie's fellow Finn Olympic champion and Cup tactician Giles Scott to make this statement: "We probably won't sail this boat as much on the water as we did in the simulator." "Britannia" was christened by Laura Clarke. The British High Commissioner in New Zealand had assisted the team with the complicated move from England to New Zealand.
Here the Americans celebrate their design to win the 36th America's Cup
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
