Team New Zealand | |
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Team New Zealand Limited
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Career | |
Yacht club | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron |
Established | 1993 |
Nation | New Zealand |
Team principal(s) | Grant Dalton |
Skipper | Glenn Ashby |
Notable sailors |
Rob Waddell Adam Beashel |
Notable victories |
1995 America's Cup 2000 America's Cup 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland |
Yachts | |
Sail no. | Boat name |
NZL–32 | NZL 32 |
NZL–82 | NZL 82 |
NZL–84 | NZL 84 |
NZL–92 | NZL 92 |
NZL–5 | Aotearoa |
Team New Zealand (since 2007, with sponsorship by Emirates airline, known as Emirates Team New Zealand or ETNZ) is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000. In doing this, they became the first team from a country outside the United States to win and successfully defend the America's Cup.
Three challenges were launched before the founding of Team New Zealand, all of these backed by Michael Fay.New Zealand Challenge competed in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup, the 1988 America's Cup and the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup.
Following the 1992 competition, Michael Fay withdrew from backing the New Zealand challenges and a new effort under the leadership of Peter Blake and Alan Sefton began putting together a team, raising funds and gaining support for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Team New Zealand Limited was established as a registered company in 1993
In 1995, TNZ stunned the world, beating Team Dennis Conner 5–0 in a "blackwash" off San Diego, California after winning the right to challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup. Their boats were fast, they had an experienced crew led by skipper Russell Coutts, and they were ably led by Sir Peter Blake. As NZL 32 approached the finish line on the last race, sailing commentator Pete Montgomery made the now famous line "The America's Cup is now New Zealand's cup!"