On Saturday, Magnus Holmberg took SWE 96 on her maiden voyage as the light of the day turned into dark of the night.

"What a beauty! Fantastic! A wonderful feeling! Just cannot be compared," said travaller Santiago Lange.

It was the day after the launch of SWE 96 and the first structure tests in the harbour. It was also a day when other America Cup teams, Team Shosholoza, Areva Challenge, and Mascalzone Latino, wanted to sail, but chose to break off their preparations due to hard winds.

Victory Challenge’s meteorologists thought, however, that a window should open later in the afternoon so that it would be possible to sail.

Hence at 16:45, the team gathered by the boat. The decision was made: SWE 96 was to be towed out of the America’s Cup harbour.

“We go and check. We are not yet sure whether we can sail,” said Magnus Holmberg whereby shore manager Sam Murch went through what would happen if they could sail. Everybody wanted so much to sail SWE 96 for the first time. Killian Bushe, the boatbuilding manager, was on board as was Mani Frers, the boat designer.

When they got out on the water the wind speed had decreased to 15 knots, making it possible to sail. Midbowman Andy Meiklejohn was sent up in the mast to prepare the hoisting of the mainsail.

It was hoisted and sail number SWE 96 was for the first time clearly visible on the water where the final pre-regatta prior to the challenger series Louis Vuitton Cup, Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, would start in 51 days.

"She sails majestically," Magnus Holmberg said at the end of the day, when SWE 96 was back at its base in the America’s Cup harbour.