True Bliss for Americans

America True's new yellow boat finally touched the water for the first time in her young life yesterday.

USA51 arrived from San Francisco a month ago, but has been hidden in the True shed on their cup village base in Auckland.

The boat was guided out of the shed yesterday and fitted with her mast, before being blessed and dipped into the waters of the viaduct - undressed in public for the first time.

Donna Coffin, the wife of True chief operations officer, Chris Coffin, poured champagne over the bow after seven attempts to smash the bottle failed.

The boat will begin sailing on the Hauraki Gulf today.