America's Cup: American Magic base construction underway with AC75 due in 10 days
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 17 Jun 2020 01:41 NZST
17 June 2020
American Magic - America's Cup Bases - Auckland - June 16, 2020 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com
Construction of the base for the New York Yacht Club team, American Magic is underway with their first AC 75 due to arrive in New Zealand in 10 days.
The build started on May 11 with the build of a large concrete pad. Unlike adjoining team, INEOS Team UK, the US team's base will consist of container walls and a flexible roof, similar to that used by Emirates Team new Zealand in Bermuda.
The area on Wynyard Point was planned to house five of the America’s Cup challenger syndicate bases.
Three of the bases were complete in January and were handed over then. Work continues on the remaining two sites and will be handed over in July.
American Magic is on Base C, the most northerly of the bases, or nearest the main Waitemata Harbour.
INEOS Team UK is on Base D, with their base building all but closed in, ready for fit-out.
Base B on Hobson wharf extension, adjacent to the National Maritime Museum has been allocated to the Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy)
After it was not possible to construct the original building design by noted Italian architect Renzo Piano, a second design was commission from a New Zealand. However construction was delayed by the five week lockdown ordered by the Coalition Government, and the team opted for a temporary building - being a container construction with a soft roof, or marquee. It will be removed in April after the Cup.
The two other bases on Wynyard Point, E and F will be used for the onsite Operations Centre, Challenger of Record & America's Cup Event's (ACE) office, and Volunteer Centre. Base F is proposed to be used for the International Broadcast Centre Space and superyacht storage containers, instead of being based in a carpark in Beaumont Street.
The Media Centre will be based on Halsey Street extension, the same wharf as Emirates Team New Zealand.