For the first time since officially launching their challenge in June, the entire syndicate will gather and training will begin on the Hauraki Gulf.

While the design team have been working for the best part of a year and members of the shore crew, weather team, sailing team and operations unit were involved in this year's pre-regattas in Europe - the entire team, which is closing in on 80 members, have not been in the same building at the same time.

Following on from their success in Europe, Emirates-sponsored Team New Zealand will spend the next five months in Auckland before heading to Europe for the next round of pre-regattas, which start in Valencia next June.

The team's race boats NZL81 and NZL82 are expected to arrive back from Valencia over the weekend. NZL82 will immediately head to the boatshed for repairs after its hull was badly damaged in a storm which blasted through Marseille after the first regatta.

Despite the damage to NZL82 the syndicate hopes to launch into its sailing programme next week with NZL81 and the former illbruck boat GER68, which the syndicate is borrowing.

In the next few months Team New Zealand will also change at least one of their boats into version five of the design rule, which is a requirement to compete in next year's pre-regattas.