NY want huge Cup shakeup
America’s Cup contenders cite lack of entries and public interest and spiralling costs in submission to holders
The New York Yacht Club has launched its own take on how to protect the “longterm commercial viability and global reach” of the 170-year-old America’s Cup sailing competition.
The New York Yacht Club lodged a challenge for the 37th America’s Cup with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and current defenders, Team New Zealand, this month — despite the event not yet being open to entries.
The details of when and where the 37th America’s Cup will be held are still being worked on between Team New Zealand and the Challenger of
Record, the Royal Yacht Squadron and Team UK.
But the New York Yacht Club have also spent their time since their American Magic entry dropped out of contention for the recent America’s Cup held in Auckland thinking about the future and they have “serious concerns” about what will happen next.
Alongside their challenge, the New York Yacht Club also released a 156-page protocol document outlining how future America’s Cup events — until 2039 — should be run.
The commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Christopher J. Culver, said: “The cost of a competitive campaign, the lack of continuity in the class and the inability to plan beyond the current cycle have combined to create a prohibitive barrier to entry, which has manifested in the dwindling number of challengers and public interest.”
Culver said the American club’s draft protocol addressed these concerns — which it said were worries that other “established teams” also had.
“It includes the tools necessary to improve the long-term commercial viability and global reach of the competition, while remaining true to the Deed of Gift and to the spirit of one of international sport’s oldest competitions.”
The New York Yacht Club’s protocol detailed that the next America’s Cup must be held in 2024 in New
Zealand, followed by the 38th America’s Cup in Italy in 2027, the next event in 2030 in the United Kingdom, followed by the 2033 event in America.
Beyond 2033 the draft protocol changes to the America’s Cup being held every two years. All racing is to take place in the summer months.
The Americans are also putting pressure on Team New Zealand and Team UK to announce the details on the 37th America’s Cup by June 17 this year.
However venue negotiations with the New Zealand Government are not due to end until June 30.
The protocol pushes for consistency in boat design between regattas, restrictions on when teams can sail in the lead -up to an event and the declaration on how much each team is spending.
How or if this draft protocol will be used is unclear.
Team New Zealand with Team UK are responsible for developing the protocol for the 37th America’s Cup and Team New Zealand said they agreed with some points raised by the New York Yacht Club which they hinted would be included the protocol for the next event.
“We are delighted to hear that the New York Yacht Club are interested in continuing participation in the America’s Cup and we will keep them informed as we move forward,” a statement from Team UK said.
— RNZ