BMW Oracle Racing this week completed an intensive race training session in New Zealand, that included the successful sea trials of the team’s recently launched America’s Cup yacht, USA 98.

In a two-part training session in New Zealand, the team took advantage of the Southern Hemisphere summer conditions.

The first sailing session with USA 71 took place before Christmas. During the team’s three-week holiday break, the new America’s Cup Class yacht USA 98 was delivered by container ship to New Zealand.

The yacht arrived to Auckland on 8 January and was launched a week later on 15 January. The team completed the first structural sail on 16 January and began the two-boat race training session with USA 71.

The team is now packing up USA 98 and support equipment which will be transported next week to Valencia (via Antonov cargo plane) where the team will continue its sailing programme.