New Zealand's America's Cup Quest Hits Rough Seas in Barcelona

New Zealand's AC75 America's Cup boat sustained damage while being craned out of the water in Barcelona, causing them to miss Friday's race. Despite the setback, all team members are safe. The incident has forced an overnight damage assessment, with the team's CEO praising their dedicated repair crew.

New Zealand's AC75 America's Cup boat suffered damage while being craned out of the water in Barcelona, halting their participation in Friday's race. The incident occurred on the competition's first day.

Despite the mishap, all team members emerged unscathed. "There was an issue with the lift and the boat landed heavily onto its supporting cradle," the team said, adding that they secured the boat with a portable crane and would assess the damage overnight. The team's CEO emphasized the dedication and talent of their repair crew.

As the defending team, New Zealand bypasses qualification for the head-to-head final but competes in a series to determine their challenger. Before the crane incident, they secured a win against Italy. Competitors from Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. vie for a shot at the title, sailing high-tech mono-hull boats.

(With inputs from agencies.)