Homage to the America's Cup - LEGO 42174 Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht
SAILING INTO YOUR DISPLAY
A surprise release from LEGO perhaps, or maybe we just didn’t notice it on our radar - LEGO 42174 Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht is available from the 1st of August 2024. Yachts, and boats in general to be honest, are not something that we really think about too much. Still, there is clearly a market for this as the America Cup is the oldest competition in international sport and the fourth oldest, continuous sporting trophy of any kind.
The actual trophy (cup) was created in 1848 and initially named the “RYS £100 Cup”. It was first awarded in 1851 by the British Royal Yacht Squadron to a team from the New York Yacht Club that had succeeded in winning a race around the Isle of Wight, UK. The winning yacht was named “America”, and in 1857, the winners donated the trophy permanently to the New York Yacht Club for future races. It was renamed “America’s Cup” after the very first winners.
To date, there have been 36 America’s Cup races. The 37th is due to take place on October 12, 2024. The race will be a first-to-seven-win match series, and it will take place in Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain. The race series will be between the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and whoever wins the Louis Vuitton Challenger Selection Series, which is taking place in September 2024 in Barcelona.
WHEN IS THE EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND AC75 YACHT BEING RELEASED?
The LEGO 42174 Technic set is sailing onto the LEGO website from 1st August 2024.
HOW MUCH IS THE LEGO 42174 TECHNIC YACHT?
LEGO 42174 Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht is priced at $119.99 on the official LEGO website.
ARE THERE ANY LEGO MINIFIGURES INCLUDED WITH LEGO 42174?
No LEGO Minifigures are included with the LEGO 42174 Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht.
HOW MANY PIECES DOES THE LEGO 42174 TECHNIC EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND AC75 YACHT HAVE?
LEGO 42174 Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht consists of 962 pieces. This includes two sails printed with the team’s sponsors.
This is a majestic-looking model, and LEGO has done a super job of accurately recreating the Royal New Zealand Team craft. A pneumatic function pumps up the hydrofoil cant arms, just as the team must while racing. LEGO has beautifully replicated the foil wings, which, in reality, provide the yacht with much-needed stability, speed, and lift, which are imperative when racing at the top levels. The LEGO 42174 model has mainsheet controls that you can adjust and a rotating mast supported by rigging.
This isn’t the first time that LEGO Technic has released a sports ship; there have been a couple of previous releases. In 2018 LEGO 42105 Technic Catamaran was released. This was the first boat release actually to float on water. It was also a 2-in-1 build that could be a Catamaran or a power boat.
Then two years later, LEGO 42074 Technic Racing Yacht launched, this was a 2-in-1 set that enabled you to build the set as either a racing yacht or a Catamaran. Both of these releases had adjustable features, sails, rudders, etc.
What are your thoughts on this release? Do you think it’s a bit of a niche set? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Happy Building!
