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RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Alinghi could rejoin as America's Cup challenger, but slams Team NZ for lack of consultation
Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton presents Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a scale model of its 2024 boat, Taihoro, at a function in Rome, 27 May, 2025. Photo: Ian Roman / America's Cup/Photosport Alinghi have hinted they could rejoin the America's Cup, but have slated Team New Zealand for celebrating the announcement of Naples as the 2027 host city without agreeing on a protocol with the Challenger of Record. Team NZ have responded saying they had complied with the cup's Deed of Gift' in choosing Naples. The Swiss syndicate announced in April that they would not compete in Naples , citing a lack of accountability and transparency from Team NZ as Defender of the America's Cup over the future of the event. Alinghi had now suggested they could take part in Naples, if Team NZ and the Challenger of Record, Britain's Athena Racing, could agree on a protocol that sets out "an equitable sporting framework" for the event. But the Swiss syndicate called into question Team NZ's consultation with Athena. At a function in Naples on Thursday, Team NZ celebrated the announcement of the Italian city with local and central government officials. That drew an angry riposte from Alinghi, who won the cup in 2003 and 2007. "While we wholeheartedly welcome the choice of Naples as a perfect host venue for the Cup in 2027, our concerns were deepened yesterday when Team New Zealand celebrated the announcement of the host venue at an event in the city,'' Alinghi said in a statement. "They had no right to do so without first having agreed a protocol with the Challenger of Record, Athena Racing, who were not consulted on the host venue arrangements which critically impact all challenging teams with regards to cost and logistics. "In signing a commercial deal with the host city that includes the Challenger Selection Series of races for the Louis Vuitton Cup, Team New Zealand have sold something they do not own the rights to. This is not acceptable." Team NZ race Alinghi in the America's Cup preliminary regatta in Barcelona, 2024. Photo: AFP In response, Team NZ said they did have the right to choose the venue. "The Defender, as per the Deed of Gift has the right and responsibility to choose the venue and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Challenger of Record at the conclusion of the 37th America's Cup also gives that full right and obligation to the Defender," Team NZ said in a statement. "The Defender remains committed to work with the teams to create a partnership for the future America's Cups." The syndicate then added a further clarification. "The MOU with the Challenger of Record also says: "The Venue for the Match and for the preceding CSS will be determined and announced by the AC38 Defender within eight months of the AC37 Final Race. The final dates for the Match and the preceding CSS will be announced within a further two months of the Venue announcement." The Alinghi salvo follows criticism from both Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing and the American Magic syndicate last week about a lack of transparency over the protocol for the next cup. American Magic cast doubt over its participation in Naples, but Team NZ responded saying the claims made were "unreasonable" and they were working closely with all teams to strengthen the future of the event. Alinghi said growing concerns about the cup's governance had led to Société Nautique de Genève raising questions with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron about the administration of the competition. "Like Athena Racing and American Magic, we believe that a successful America's Cup hinges on openness, trust and a shared understanding among all participants. "We remain hopeful that a protocol between the Defender and the Challenger of Record can be agreed that establishes an equitable sporting framework for the racing and a commercially viable event for all America's Cup stakeholders. "If this can be achieved, then Alinghi is ready to explore ways that we can be part of that future, especially in the wonderful city of Naples in 2027, a truly fitting setting for the world's greatest sailing competition." Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton had been at functions in both Rome and Naples this week, celebrating the announcement of the host city. At the Rome function, he presented Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni with a scale model of Taihoro, Team NZ's winning boat in last year's edition of the Cup. In Naples, he referred to Italy's Luna Rossa syndicate as "our dear friends and closest competitors" and said the Italian government had been "amazing to deal with from the very start". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
America's Cup: Draft protocol shows plenty of changes likely in new Cup cycle
It appears change is on the horizon for the America's Cup. After being criticised for a lack of transparency by several challengers in recent weeks, including challenger of record Athena Racing, defenders Emirates Team New Zealand made the draft protocol for the next edition readily available for anyone who wanted
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
America's Cup: Team New Zealand face power struggle over new protocol
THREE KEY FACTS You don't have to look very far to see the motivation behind the America's Cup challengers having a crack at Emirates Team New Zealand: power. Now Team New Zealand have published the draft final protocol, which went to the Challenger of Record, Sir Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing,
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
An America's Cup without an American boat? American Magic says it may not sail in Naples
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — American Magic has put its participation in the next America's Cup in serious doubt after it cited 'transparency' concerns related to Team New Zealand's decision to hold the 2027 regatta in Naples, Italy. The team that represented the New York Yacht Club in last year's cup in Barcelona issued a statement on Thursday saying America's Cup defending champion Team New Zealand 'has been unwilling to commit to the transparency and cooperation necessary' regarding its plans for Naples that were announced last week. If American Magic doesn't compete and no other American team enters in its place, then for the first time in the event's history, there will not be an American syndicate in the America's Cup. American boats have won the America's Cup a record 25 times and held it from its first race in 1851 all the way through 1983, when an Australian syndicate won it. Team New Zealand responded to the American Magic statement by publicly releasing the latest draft version of the 2027 protocols 'as an illustration of complete transparency.' American Magic's complaint was made public shortly after British team Athena Racing, representing all challengers, issued a statement criticizing what it called the lack of information provided by Team New Zealand on the deal with Italian organizers. It is 'difficult to understand what exactly has been agreed between Team New Zealand and the government of Italy as the sporting framework and details of the event do not yet exist,' Athena said. American Magic backed up Athena's position by saying that 'without the meaningful changes they (Athena) are advocating, it is difficult to see how NYYC American Magic can participate in the 38th America's Cup.' Neither Athena nor American Magic went into further detail regarding their complaints. In a statement, Team New Zealand said it had been working with all teams in developing plans for the 2027 event and the latest protocol went back to Athena Racing 10 days ago, before the announcement of Naples as host. 'The defender has not had any feedback back from the challenger of record on the latest version other than acknowledgement it had been well received by the teams,' Team New Zealand said. 'However, the defender now feels due to the unreasonable allegations that have been levelled at it by Athena Racing and American Magic, that it is appropriate to publicly release the latest draft.' Team New Zealand said all teams had been offered 'full access and transparency to the host venue agreement' upon the signing of a non-disclosure agreement, but no NDAs had been returned. ___ AP sports: Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Statement From Emirates Team New Zealand In Response To Athena Racing And American Magic
The Defender has been working closely and positively with all teams on moving the America's Cup to a new collaborative Partnership and structure to strengthen the future of the America's Cup for the benefit of the event and all current and future teams. PROTOCOL In an unprecedented move, the Defender in conjunction with the Challenger of Record has been working with all teams on the development of the Protocol for the 38th America's Cup over the past few months. This has resulted in the current Protocol incorporating many ideas and positions of the teams. As a result of the significant teams input the completion of the Protocol has been prolonged. The latest version of the Protocol went back to the Challenger of Record Athena Racing, 10 days ago, prior to the announcement of Naples. The Defender has not had any feedback back from the Challenger of Record on the latest version other than acknowledgement it had been well received by the teams. However, the Defender now feels due to the unreasonable allegations that have been levelled at it by Athena Racing and American Magic, that it is appropriate to publicly release the latest draft version of the 38th America's Cup Protocol today as an illustration of complete transparency. VENUE & HOST VENUE AGREEMENT It is the responsibility of the Defender and has been an obligation of an agreement with the Challenger of Record, to secure the Host Venue by June 19th 2025 so all teams have clarity on one of the most important foundations of any America's Cup. Ahead of time, the teams now have that knowledge and understanding with the exciting announcement of Naples, Italy in 2027. In contrast to the statement by Athena Racing, all teams have already been offered full access and transparency to the Host Venue Agreement (HVA), which was signed just last week, upon their signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Such a requirement is standard practice in with any contract that contains commercial sensitivities. The Defender is yet to receive the returned NDA's from Athena Racing as Challenger of Record.
