The first America’s Cup class catamaran launched in local waters this year by Oracle Team USA is sporting a new look these days.

Work is ongoing to the foiling AC45 test boat which is being upgraded to closely replicate the configuration of Oracle’s second boat that has arrived at the team’s Dockyard base.

Among the most significant modifications to Oracle’s first AC45 is the addition of a second grinding pedestal to each side of the boat which will increase the physical demands on the sailors and closely imitate the America’s Cup class boat for 2017.

The upgrades are expected to be completed and the boat ready to resume sea trials in the Great Sound after Oracle sailors return from next week’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Gothenburg.

“Boat one will be ready just after the guys get back from Gothenburg at the beginning of September,” said Mark Turner, who leads the team’s boatbuilding and has overseen the construction of the last two boats to win the America’s Cup.

Oracle’s second AC45 test boat arrived on Island last week and is also expected to be ready to start sea trials next month.

“The boat has been assembled already in New Zealand, so it’s a matter of being able to set it up in its cradle and reassemble it,” Turner said. “That will take a few hours, but the systems still need to be set up.

“There’s a lot of work that still needs to happen there so this boat is scheduled to be delivered to the sailing team in about a month’s time.”