Team New Zealand’s race yachts are on their way to Valencia, stowed in the massive hold of an Antonov cargo aircraft.

The Antonov AN124-100 left Auckland at daybreak and will make refuelling stops in Sydney, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Karachi and Istanbul on a 56-hour journey to Valencia where it will arrive on Saturday morning.

Team shore crew and engineers carefully loaded the aircraft on Tuesday. The shrink-wrapped yachts, masts, keels and bulbs were accompanied by several tones of gear and sails.

Much of Team NZ's shore crew and administration staff are already in Valencia, and Dalton is due to depart on Friday. The sailing crew is scheduled to leave at the end of the month.

Testing of NZL 84 and NZL 92 off Valencia is expected to start on March 5, about a month out from the final build-up regatta - Louis Vuitton Act 13.