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Emirates Team New Zealand’s new round-the-world race yacht has arrived in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. She left Cookson’s boat yard in the early hours of Sunday morning (4:30am), just a year after project was announced.

The build at Cookson Boats took close to 35,000 man-hours, and over the next few days, keel, rudder, dagger boards, mast and rigging will be fitted and electronic, electrical and hydraulic systems will commissioned.

CAMPER will be sailing on the Waitemata Harbour by the end of the week before setting off for sea trials. The yacht will leave Auckland on 25 April for Tauranga. Other ports include Gisborne (29 April), Wellington (2 May), Dunedin (5 May) and Lyttelton (7-8 May).

Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton commented: “This is a great day for us as a team. Everyone has worked hard to meet all our deadlines. They have delivered CAMPER on time, just nine months after we first started the build.”

“To be able to stand back and see the amazing job that they guys have done and now see her in her full livery, is quite humbling. I am very excited about going out sailing towards the end of this week.”

For more, visit www.volvooceanrace.com.