Spark had the opportunity to demonstrate to New Zealanders how 5G could make a difference to how Team New Zealand defended the 36th America’s Cup. They started by building the team their own 5G network to give them a technological advantage and excel their boat’s performance to victory.
To highlight their 5G capabilities they created The Spark 5G Race Zone - an immersive high-tech experience with seven zones, each bringing aspects of the team’s preparation to life. This was a first-of-its-kind 5G consumer showcase, a free experience that gave the public hands-on access to discover the benefits of 5G for themselves.
We created two out of the seven installations in the Race Zone, one of which was the Race Simulator. The simulator was created as a virtual interactive sailing experience where the public could race Te Ahei AC75, Emirates Team New Zealand’s sailing boat, in Tīkapa Moana, Auckland.
Visitors could take Te Ahei on high-speed test runs to push the limits while looking for ways to make the boat go faster.
It is a timed experience allowing up to two players, one controlling the foil trimmer & the other controlling the helm. The aim of the game is to pass through as many gates in the fastest time possible.