NZSailGP, the last of the eight competitors in the 2021 SailGP regatta, launched their F50 today in Bermuda just before nightfall.
The milestone event marks the end of a worrying time when it seemed that with the initial COVID19 restrictions, the F50 would not be ready in time for the first round of the 2021 Series.
Several of the other F50s that will compete in the Bermuda event which gets underway on Saturday had a practice session on the Great Sound in fresh winds of around 20kts.
Earlier in the week, the team sailed with their wing-sail using the platform from SailGP UK.
The flagship of the Live Ocean conservation and restoration campaign, NZSailGP's F50 was rigged after the other F50's had been craned ashore and then the kiwi AC50 had her rig lifted into position before being lowered into the water for an hour of testing and system setup and check. NZSailGP is expected to have their first sail tomorrow, Wednesday.
As darkness fell, the F50 was craned from the water of the historic Cross Island, which was purposely built for the America's Cup.
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