Anacortes-built boat heads to America's Cup

The 90 ft. America's Cup challenger was loaded on the cargo ship Oceanlady, along with the main element of the wing sail, 4 custom-made boxes containing the wing flaps, 2 spare masts, 19 shipping containers and 10 other boats. All of the material was taken to ship from the team base by barge, and loaded on board with the ship's crane.

"Everything was staged on two barges ‐ the chase boats and pushers, and the shipping containers. We pushed the barges over to the ship and they were unloaded by the ship's crane. The trimaran was lifted up with a big floating crane and it rode 'under the hook', suspended in the air, over to the ship. It was the same for the masts and the main wing element,"  Scott Sandford, who managed the process for the team, along with Julien Di Biase, explained.

Weather proved to be an additional challenge, with wind hampering the first attempt at moving the wing. But overnight Monday night, the wing was transported across in calm conditions and loaded safely onto the Ocean Lady.

With the San Diego base now closed down and packed up, the team will re‐assemble in Valencia following a short Christmas break and immediately resume preparations for the match.

On Tuesday, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court affirmed an earlier decision confirming Valencia as the venue. The first race of the 33rd America’s Cup Match is scheduled for February 8, 2010.