America’s Cup likely to be affected
WELLINGTON: Travel restrictions to curb the spread of Covid19 could have ‘‘some impact’’ on next year’s America’s Cup but it is too early to determine to what extent, the Government said yesterday.
With Team New Zealand set to defend the trophy next March, challenging teams are unsure when they can send advance parties to Auckland to start preparations.
New infections have slowed to a trickle but borders remain closed to all except returning citizens and permanent residents, who must undergo a mandatory 14day quarantine period.
Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford, who has responsibility for major events such as the America’s Cup, said there was still too much uncertainty to know when borders could be reopened.
‘‘At this stage it was hard to know the extent to which Covid19 would affect the Americas Cup.
‘‘However, there is likely to be some impact . . . critical factors including restrictions on gatherings, and any restrictions for borders, both here and internationally, still have to be worked through.’’
Two of the challenging syndicates have expressed concern about when the restrictions might be lifted.
‘‘We don’t know when we can come down to New Zealand,’’ Britain’s Team INEOS UK chief executive Grant Simmer told a Cruising Yacht Club of Australia podcast.
‘‘We need to get a forward party there to set up the base and start things happening.
‘‘The New Zealand Government has been silent.’’
The cancellation of warmup regattas in Britain and Italy had also created an issue for teams and their testing programmes.
American Magic syndicate head Terry Hutchinson told The New Zealand Herald the cancellations meant teams had to be in Auckland by July to trial their boats.
A series of warmup races is scheduled to be held in Auckland before a regatta for the four challengers takes place next January-February.
The America’s Cup starts on March 6.