Team New Zealand has officially unveiled their new yacht, called Te Aihe, which will be used to defend the America's Cup in 2021.
On Friday, the AC75 foiling monohull was on full display at a ceremony at the team's Auckland base at Wynyard Quarter.
The boat, which took over 10,000 man hours to design, was christened Te Aihe, which translates to 'The Dolphin', and blessed by Ngati Whatua.
After the ceremony, the boat was then placed in the water for the first time and fans can expect to see the boat sailing around Auckland Harbour in coming months.
Many fans, including Prime Minister Jacinda Adern, were in attendance.
Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge was pleased with the turnout.
"This is a significant occasion for the team, not just because it is another new boat, but really because, when we won the America's Cup in 2017, we very quickly had to come up with a new concept of boat that would really continue to push the boundaries of innovation and technology in the America's Cup," said Shoebridge.
"In the relatively short timeframe since November in 2017 - when we published the concept - to seeing it in the flesh today is an amazing testament to the entire team willing to push things all the way, from concept to design to build and fit out."
Light rain fell before the launch, which many saw as a good omen, given the boat that won back the America's Cup in Bermuda was also launched in rain.
The 23-metre foiling monohull will hold 11 crew members and is expected to be faster than the catamarans used in Bermuda in 2017, when Team NZ beat Oracle 7-1 to recapture the 'Auld Mug'.
Italian challenger Prada are due to unveil their first sailboat early next week, with the first races to be held next April at an America's Cup world series regatta in Italy.
On Thursday, fans were given a sneak peek of the boat, when it was on full display outside the team's base, as they conducted a last-minute fitness check.
Newshub.
