Emirates Team NZ's chase boat arrived at the Tauranga Bridge Marina today to be lifted and transferred to the Port of Tauranga for shipping to San Francisco ahead of this year's Americas Cup.

The 45foot chase boat, and another 12metre protector boat, are expected to depart for California this weekend where the NZ team will set up base for the international race in September.

Emirates Team NZ's chase boat at Tauranga Bridge Marina.

Emirates Team NZ on-water manager Chris Salthouse drove the boat from Auckland to Mount Maunganui today cruising at 45 knots in a two and a half hour journey.

The rank of four 300hp V6 outboards across the back are not for speed, they are for power, says Chris.

'If they have a problem and we have to try and right the cat, we need the horsepower to get in and right it,” says Chris.

The shrink wrapped AC75 and wingmast will also be transhipped through the Port of Tauranga with the catamaran expected to arrive from Auckland on April 19, for transhipping to a San Francisco bound ship for departure on April 23.

The boating side is just a small part of the America's Cup cargo that will be passing through.

Pack up at Emirates Team New Zealand's Auckland base is in full swing with office furniture and tent structures, hydraulics and engineering workshops expected to leave the base this week.

The platform, wing sections and chase boats will be shipped in 31 containers to follow.

The relocation to San Francisco takes place April-May and the team aims to be sailing towards the end of May, giving themselves a month on the water to become reacquainted with the nuances of the Bay's breeze and currents.

The Sailing team is meanwhile racing in Naples on the AC45.

The sailing squad for Naples is: Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies, James Dagg, Derek Saward, Adam Beashel, Winston Macfarlane and Jeremy Lomas.

Racing at Naples starts in a week and ends on Sunday April 21.