After more than a year in the making, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) launched the first of their two-full scale race boats for the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland on Friday 6 September 2019. With Emirates’ sponsorship of Team New Zealand dating back to 2004, Emirates is committed to supporting the team on their journey towards the 2021 America’s Cup and congratulates everyone involved in this momentous occasion.

Taking place at the ETNZ team base in Auckland’s Viaduct, the event was attended by hundreds of people, including New Zealand Prime minister Jacinda Adern. Named ‘Te Aihe’ (Maori for dolphin), the AC75 vessel was christened by Marcus Gerbich, a representative from the team’s charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association of NZ, breaking a bottle of champagne on the bow. It was blessed by Ngati Whatua.”