ETNZ Isn't Perfect

Well, of course they are not. But it is unusual to see them screwing up. Here's the New Zealand Herald:

Team New Zealand have damaged their wingsail - a hi-tech and expensive piece of machinery - in a dramatic launch incident in the Viaduct this afternoon.

The incident occurred as the team were preparing to fit their wingsail to the platform of AC72 catamaran in gusty conditions. The 40m wing-sail needs to lifted into place by a crane - an extremely delicate process at the best of times.

A Team New Zealand spokesperson said as they were hoisting the sail, a big gust of wind blew across the the Viaduct, picking up the sail. The leading edge of the hard sail is understood to have clipped the side of the main building of Emirates Team New Zealand's base, ripping the skin and causing some rig damage.

Repeairs should take just a few days, and Oracle remains the champion when it comes to trashing a wing sail. But still. I definitely would not want to have been the guy explaining what happened to Grant Dalton.

Bonus link: ETNZ's Glenn Ashby talking about what it is like to trim the wing sail.

Update: ETNZ's wing is back in action, and a chastened shore team says "lesson learned." (video after the jump).