When the newly constructed America’s Cup boat Örn is launched and lifted up from the sea at base eight in Viaduct Basin in Auckland, New Zealand, the keel, fen and bulbous are efficiently concealed.

“No outsider may see them” says the project leader Mats Johansson, as he returns from the second sailing with the Swedish boat designed by German Frers Jr.

The mystery-making surrounding Örn (SWE 63) is a natural part of the preparation for the America’s Cup 2003 which already is in full action despite the fact that nine and a half months remain until the challenging competitions in the world’s oldest and established sailing competition starts.

It’s Wednesday 12 December in Auckland. Unlike the launch and premier outing last Monday this second sailing takes place in daylight.
Magnus Holmberg, currently ranked number one in the world of match racing, is one of the key persons onboard. As the International Sailing Association, ISAF, on Tuesday published the latest ranking it was for the fourth month in a row that Magnus Holmberg was ranked number one. He also leads the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour in total, the same world cup series that he also won last season.

But during the second days’ sailing with Örn, it’s neither Mats Johansson, himself Olympic Games sailor in Starboat, nor Magnus Holmberg who is steersman.
“I want Mani Frers to steer, to feel the boat when he now is in the final phase of the design of our second boat”, Mats Johansson tells us.
German “Mani” Frers Jr., who was one of Prada’s head designers for America’s Cup 2000 when the Italian syndicate reached the final against Team New Zealand, is the designer for Victory Challenge’s two boats.
“By steering he may feel for himself if Örn’s characteristics and performance is as he imagined and that may give him even superior ideas for the design of the next boat. And Mani is very pleased with the sailing today. We all are, the boat gives a very solid impression” Mats Johansson continues.

The conditions in Hauraki Gulf, the same water where America’s Cup will be decided, is somewhat tougher during Wednesday than during the short premier outing after twilight Monday evening. The wind is a little stronger than 7 metres per second and the waves are about a half metre high.
The America’s Cup boats correspond to the motoring Formula 1-cars. The competitors’ problems have proved this. About a month ago the American Oracle Team loosed the keel on their training boat, which capsized. And the wind was not stronger than 7 metres per second that day. Both Team New Zealand and one of the American challenging syndicates, One World, have had the masts on their training boats broken.
The Swedish training boat Cristina, former one of Team New Zealand’s victorious Black Magic-boats, has managed well. But no risks should be taken at the introductory sailing with the newly constructed Örn.
“We only increase the strain of the boat as we make structural tests” Mats Johansson explains.
At the same time it’s important to use the experience for the construction of the second boat in Gothenburg. Tests of the tank are already going on. The construction is planned to start during the first quarter of next year. Each America’s Cup syndicate has the right to build two boats for the competition.

Bert Willborg/Victory Challenge