Oracle Racing to train in New Zealand

America's Cup defender will be two boat testing in Whangarei from February 2013

Oracle Racing has chosen Northport, New Zealand’s newest port facility located at Marsden Point, Northland to stage its 2013 training program.

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 catamarans while the hulls are being built at the team base in San Francisco, to comply with the nationality rules for the America's 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.

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 until 31 January 2013. On 1 February 2013 teams are permitted to launch a second AC72 and may sail each yacht 45 days until 31 April 2013.

Oracle Racing’s first AC72 will undergo tests on San Francisco Bay after its launching. Then, later this year it will be shipped to Northport where it’ll join the second AC72 for two-boat testing beginning in February.