USA 17 – Team’s TP 52 is launched for maiden sail.

Team member Anabella Alegre of Valencia had the honor of smashing the traditional bottle of champagne across the bow to name the yacht “USA 17.” The team then took the boat out for its maiden sail and ran the monohull through a routine shakedown to test the systems.

Helmsman James Spithill (AUS) and crew will take the new yacht for its first full sailing day tomorrow. USA 17 will tune-up with Artemis, another new TP 52 which is crewed by mostly BMW ORACLE Racing team members including tactician John Kostecki (USA). Artemis just completed the first regatta on the TP 52 Med Cup circuit in Alicante, Spain last week, finishing sixth overall