Team New Zealand's NZL82 was back on the Hauraki Gulf yesterday for the first time since last year's disastrous America's Cup.

Among those on board were Team New Zealand's managing director, Grant Dalton, skipper Dean Barker, Tom Schnackenberg and several engineers and designers.

At this stage the boat has no branding and although still black, the hull also has splashes of grey and red which are understood to part of the syndicate's new look.

The syndicate said it was happy with yesterday's sail but would not comment further.

The boat will be put through a series of tests over the next month before it is shipped to Europe on July 7 in preparation for the America's Cup class regattas which start in France in September.

Also travelling with NZL82 to Europe is NZL57, one of Team New Zealand's 2000 cup boats which has been sold to the French syndicate K-Challenge. NZL57's sister yacht NZL60 has been leased to K-Challenge as well and will head to Europe in August.

NZL57, 60 and 82 will all be out on the Gulf over the next month. Work will now begin on NZL81 and the former illbruck boat GER68, which arrives in Auckland in July.