America's Cup: First look at Emirates Team New Zealand's modified AC75

Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Emirates Team NZ have launched their modified AC75 Te Rehutai, the 2021 America's Cup champion. The obvious changes are to the deck, where the open crew pits - designed for 11 crew - have been reduced to five per side - which will be used by a reduced eight crew.

Other obvious changes are the removal of running backstays, and removal of the bowsprit - both of which are a response to the changed class rules in Version 2 of the AC75 class rule.

According to a later ETNZ media statement the AC75 has been upgraded to Version 2 of the AC75 Class Rule.

The video below is unofficial and was shot from public access alongside the team base.

Load checking - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Emirates Team New Zealand's Te Rehurai's previous deck layout was more open - deck layout - Race 1 - 2021 America's Cup - March 10, 2021 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

The revamped AC75 has five cockpit openings per side - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

The revamped AC75 has five cockpit openings per side -Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

The revamped AC75 has five cockpit openings per side -Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Running backstays have been removed - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Topside height cannot be altered only 12.5% of the deck surface can be altered - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Running backstays gone - Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

Emirates Team NZ - AC75 V2 - Launch - March 20, 2023 - photo © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz