Team NZ knock back New York’s radical challenge
Defender Team New Zealand (TNZ) and challenger of record Team UK have knocked back a surprise challenge by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) that sought to radically revamp the America’s Cup.
NYCC, led by commodore Christopher Culver, is seeking some clarity and long-term assurances, and set out a long list of suggestions under a draft protocol that included a multi-event schedule for the next four regattas, believing the event is at ‘‘a pivotal point’’.
They want that started at Auckland 2024. But the Americans, a failed challenger in Auckland
this year, have no responsibilities for the event and have effectively been told as much by both the Kiwis and British who are working on plans to progress the event. They issued a polite ‘‘thanks, but no’’ response.
‘‘RNZYS and Emirates Team New Zealand [as the current Defender of the America’s Cup] welcome the NYYC’s interest in the next America’s Cup, but questions their motives for such a presumptuous statement when entries do not open for some time,’’ TNZ said.
‘‘There have been some valid points raised by NYYC, a number of which are already being considered in developing a progressive and forward thinking protocol between the defender and Team UK and the RYS as [challenger of record for the 37th America’s Cup] who are the two parties responsible for developing the next protocol.’’
Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd (RYS) and Team UK expressed similar sentiments:
‘‘As the challenger of record for the 37th America’s Cup, we are working collaboratively with the RNZYS and TNZ to write the protocol that will define the rules moving forward.
‘‘We are delighted to hear that the NYYC are interested in continuing participation in the America’s Cup, and we will keep them informed as we move forward,’’ the British said.
TNZ and Team UK have already confirmed a continuation of the AC75s for the next two regattas, tighter nationality rules, cost-cutting measures and a governance revamp which are obvious concerns of the Americans who successfully defended the trophy from 1870 to 1983.
The NYYC set about reviewing the Cup process while they competed in Auckland. The development is also an unsubtle way of the NYYC reaffirming their earlier thoughts that a suggested one-off deed of gift challenge between TNZ and Team UK stinks.