ORACLE TEAM USA’s holiday gift is on the way. The new wing was wrapped, pushed out of the shed at Core Builders Composites, and loaded onto the ship in New Zealand. It will arrive under the roof of the team base in San Francisco in January.

“It’s been a massive effort,” said Chris Mellow, project manager at Core Builders Composites. “Everyone has really done tremendous work to recover from where we were in October – we’ve achieved a lot and built a lot.”

After delivery to Pier 80, the wing will be assembled. New flaps have been constructed and are waiting at the team base. Once tested, the wing will be fitted to a repaired ORACLE TEAM USA 17, and the boat is expected to be ready to sail again in early February.

At the same time, work continues for teams of boat builders. Boat 2 construction continues in San Francisco, and building of the next wing is underway in New Zealand. “It’s as busy an America’s Cup as ever,” said Tim Smyth, ORACLE TEAM USA construction manager.

[PHOTOS: Ivor Wilkins]