OneWorld's America's Cup campaign got off to the worst possible start yesterday when a mast broke on their training yacht USA-51.
Team New Zealand and the police went to the rescue and no one was hurt.
OneWorld director of sailing Peter Gilmour said it was fairly breezy, but nothing out of the ordinary. "We were out there in the gulf doing a bit of training and some fine-tuning on the mast when unfortunately it came down," he said.
"We lost a couple of the crew overboard but luckily no one was hurt. Team New Zealand came over to offer their assistance, which was very kind, as did the water police." OneWorld acquired America True (USA-51) and Stars and Stripes (USA-55) after the last America's Cup regatta. "Yesterday was the first time that we had both boats out there. We've had the USA-51 out but this was the first day for USA-55."
OneWorld are the first syndicate from Seattle to challenge for the America's Cup. They hope to have their cup boat, USA-65, in Auckland by March.