Spithill questions TNZ decision

Jimmy Spithill has questioned Team New Zealand’s plan to move away from foiling catamarans in preference for foiling monohulls at the 2021 America’s Cup.

The Oracle helmsman, who was in New Zealand promoting his book Chasing The Cup – My America’s Cup Journey, told Newstalk ZB that he was surprised to hear that TNZ boss Grant Dalton was leaning towards a return to the more traditional monohull racing. He questioned whether the sailors themselves had been consulted in the planning for the 36th America’s Cup.

‘‘For the sailors too, what I’m fascinated too is did Dalton and co ask the guys that were on their boat what they think? Did they get a vote, the guys who actually go out there and race?’’ Spithill said.

‘‘It’s interesting because you look at the last two America’s Cups and, let’s face it, they almost won two with foiling catamarans, so it’s an interesting decision if they step away from that.’’

‘‘You look at the audience and people who are into sailing. A lot of my friends aren’t into sailing but because of San Francisco and Bermuda, and what Larry [Ellison] and Russell [Coutts] did, people can watch it now,’’ Spithill said.

As current holder of the America’s Cup, Team New Zealand have the right to reshape the next regatta, which they are doing with Italian challenger of record Luna Rossa.

Spithill said this year’s event in Bermuda ‘‘ticked every box’’ by having athleticism, risk and technology, and he is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the decision before committing to another campaign.

‘‘You need to know where the goal posts are. What is the game you are playing. That’s a position a lot of people are in. If you are in the Team New Zealand or Italian camp you know, you’ve got a pretty good idea. But for the rest of us, before you go sign up to something, you really have to know what it is.

‘‘As a competitor instinctively you want to go re-race tomorrow ... but like anything you have to look through and see in detail what this set of commandments is.’’

Team New Zealand will make public the rules for the 36th America’s Cup at the end of the month.

One thing Dalton has already confirmed is that there will be rules around how many of the sailors must hold a passport for the team they are sailing for.

Despite being an Australian competing for Team USA, Spithill backed a nationality restriction for the sailors but told Newstalk ZB that he disagreed with any restrictions on where the boat is actually built.