Three late Cup entries accepted
WELLINGTON: America’s Cup organisers have reached an agreement to accept three late entries from challengers for the next regatta in Auckland in 2021.
The three syndicates, one each from the Netherlands, Malta and the United States, have to pay a $1 million late entry fee, with a first instalment of $250,000 by April 1 and the remaining $750,000 by October 1. Holder Team New Zealand and challenger of record Luna Rossa met late last month in Auckland to try to resolve a dispute over the fees and other issues, TNZ said in a statement yesterday.
TNZ said the issues had been settled and the entries confirmed with an amendment of the Cup protocol.
‘‘The path is therefore now clear for the late entries to continue building their respective campaigns to try to participate and the defender and challenger of record will give whatever support they can,’’ TNZ chief executive Grant Dalton said.
‘‘It is no secret there have been some outstanding issues that needed to be resolved, but the fact that Mr Bertelli took the time to personally come down to Auckland is testament of the mutual respect between us, which bodes well for the event in general,’’ he said.
The 36th edition of sport’s oldest trophy, to be held in 75foot foiling monohulls, is due to be held on Waitemata Harbour in 2021.
Teams from Britain, the New York Yacht Club and Luna Rossa had already been confirmed as entrants. — Reuters