Shortage of bases could hurt Cup

The America’s Cup could have the embarrassment of more syndicates than bases as challengers eye the 36th edition set to be sailed in Auckland in 2021.

Auckland Council and the Government are still working through the tricky logistics of hosting the event with the infrastructure required in the city’s downtown waterfront a major point of debate.

But the plans left on the table only allow for eight bases – one for America’s Cup holders Emirates Team New Zealand and seven for challengers in a mix of one and two-boat set-ups.

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton revealed to Newsroom that as many as 10 challengers were in the early talk though, as is the way with the big numbers involved in the Cup game, he didn’t expect them all to front.

‘‘We can only create eight bases, including one for ourselves.

‘‘You could say it’s a nice problem to have if there are more teams, but I actually don’t know where they’d go,’’ Dalton told Newsroom.

"I don't think we will limit the number of teams who can come. But quite frankly, I don't know where the others would go."

Team NZ boss Grant Dalton, above

‘‘Seven challengers still pose quite a logistical issue for the city. Not only with the bases and the building of the infrastructure, but with accommodation. If there are around 100 people in each team, plus families – that’s 250 in a team. I think if we had seven, that would be just fine.

‘‘I don’t think we will limit the number of teams who can come. But quite frankly, I don’t know where the others would go.’’

Entries open on January 1 and teams need to pay a US$1m fee with a further US$1m to be paid by November 30.

Challenger of record Luna Ross are definitely in the mix as are the New York Yacht Club and Ben Ainslie’s British syndicate. There is further interest from Italy, France have indicated desire to stay involved and Australia are seriously investigating a challenge.

There’s always a lot of talk in this game. It’s about waiting to see who backs up that talk with action, especially among the new voices.

‘‘There are another six or seven teams we’ve heard from that we are treating seriously,’’ Dalton said.

‘‘Some are from outside the normal sphere that we know, one in particular. We treat everyone seriously because you don’t know whether they are or not, and you don’t want to miss one because of it. Out of those seven, we might get five. Because in the end, they’ve got to pony up.

‘‘There will also be the odd lurkers, those teams who haven’t said much at all yet. In the past, that would have been us; we wouldn’t have said much at this point either.’’

The Auckland Council have stated their preferred option is a cluster option centred around Wynyard, Hobson and Halsey wharves.

The government wants more investigation into a Wynyard Point option they believe has greater longevity.

The first teams are expected to arrive in Auckland in 2019. The

2000 America’s Cup in Auckland attracted 11 challengers and the

2003 regatta had nine challengers as well as the Kiwi defenders on both occasions.