“Taihoro”: Emirates Group New Zealand yacht “connects sea and sky”

Emirates Team New Zealand has named its AC75 as it defends its 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona. The ship was named Taihoro In Maori it means transcending traditional boundaries and creating a connection between the sea and the sky.

Baptism ceremony under heavy rain Taihoro It took place at the team’s base in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand, and was witnessed by friends, family, sponsors and suppliers.

Marama Royal, Chair of Ngāti Whātua ORākei Foundation, explained the deeper meaning of the name. Taihoro: “Move swiftly like the sea between heaven and earth. The taihoro-nukurangi captures the ocean (tai), the concept of speed (horo), the movement of the earth (nuku) and the expanse of the sky (rangi).

The AC75 was named after Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and the godmother of the New Zealand team. Taihoro It includes all the design, innovation and construction work carried out by the New Zealand team over the past three years.

Geoff Senior, head of construction for Emirates Team New Zealand, is responsible for overseeing the construction of the yacht, which began over 10 months ago at the shipyard, where 45 workers were employed throughout the project. It takes 85,000 hours to complete a modern ship.

“Taihoro” was transported to the Emirates team New Zealand base in Auckland and fully equipped by the hydraulic, mechatronic, electronic and ground technical teams, handing over thousands of components and systems to start operating the navigation team. Sea trials are underway in Auckland Harbour.

“We don’t have much time to travel in Auckland before boarding Barcelona, ​​so it’s an intense and exciting time for the team,” team captain Peter Burling concluded.

Images of baptism Taihoro – (Photos: Emirates Team New Zealand)