TE REHUTAI ARRIVES IN BARCELONA
Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75 ‘Te Rehutai’ has arrived at the team’s Barcelona base in the early hours of Thursday morning local time.
In just over one month since the shipment left Auckland, it has been in a rapid transit across the world to arrive in Barcelona to begin getting Te Rehutai and all of its components unpacked and re rigged ready to sail for the first time on the waters of the 37th America’s Cup.
Emirates Team New Zealand Base and Logistics Manager Andy Nottage was on site to welcome the convoy to the base in the Port of Barcelona after an 85km trip via truck from the ship in Tarragona.
“It has been a huge task to mobilise and move across the world with such large and precious cargo. So, it is always a bit of a relief to receive the shipment safely.” said Nottage.
“Now the exciting part starts. The wider team is arriving daily now from New Zealand and having Te Rehutai at the base here now is really the trigger that things start to ramp up to another level for our campaign to defend the America’s Cup.
It’s a bit of a dress rehearsal for the main event next year, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like it is going to be any less intense.”
“Everyone on the team is really excited to arrive in our new home away from home. It is a vibrant and great city, and for those of us who are here already, the locals we have been hugely welcoming.”
Emirates Team New Zealand plan to be sailing in Barcelona by the middle of the month.