America’s Cup: Where we are now

There’s nothing cheap or easy about hosting the America’s Cup, particularly now with the focus on creating a village atmosphere for teams and fans and the heightened desire for a brilliant broadcast. Here’s the latest from New Zealand:

• Auckland Council voted to locate the America’s Cup bases at Wynyard Basin on the Auckland waterfront. The decision will form the basis of negotiations with the Government and Team New Zealand. The decision is not binding on the Government, which is still investigating an alternative land-based option to base the syndicates at Wynyard Pt, the old Tank Farm site to the west of Wynyard Basin. Full report.

• Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said he was not interested in making any contribution toward a hosting fee being sought by Team New Zealand, saying the council was making a big contribution to infrastructure. Full report.

• Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton says it is not the team’s intention to take the America’s Cup offshore, ”but we have got to get to the point where we have a deal,” said Dalton referring to suggestions of a hosting fee and debate over the Cup bases in Auckland. Emirates Team New Zealand has said that Italy is a likely alternative venue for the 2021 event if agreements can’t be reached. Full report.

• Team New Zealand says the event fee it is seeking from the government will make the next America’s Cup free to watch in person and on television. Chief executive Grant Dalton says the money is purely for operational purposes, not to help Team NZ retain the Auld Mug, and isn’t near the various figures of well over $100 million which had been speculated in the media. Also, Team NZ won’t seek government financial help for its sailing programme, as was needed on the way to winning the America’s Cup in Bermuda this year. Details.

Key dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
December 31, 2018: Late entries deadline
March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched
2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
January and February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Protocol of the 36th America’s Cup
Key Points of the Protocol
Deed of Gift