The first Swiss America’s Cup boat, Alinghi SUI 64, was named and launched yesterday in Auckland. Skipper, Russell Coutts, and team put her through the paces out in the harbour but failing light forced the team to return to shore and prepare for the intense training that will take place every day from now on.

She is the first of the new generation yachts with her distinct knuckle shaped bow and a reasonably long, narrow transom overhang. She’s also gone for the conventional inverted V rig rather than the millennium X rig.