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RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Royal NZ Yacht Squadron confident Kiwi fans will engage with offshore America's Cup
Members watch the America`s Cup match race between Team New Zealand and Oracle at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, in 2017. Photo: photosport The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron insists it wanted the America's Cup to be hosted at home and is confident New Zealand fans will be engaged with the event despite it being offshore. Holders Team New Zealand announced Naples will host the 2027 America's Cup , with the regatta to be staged in Italy for the first time. After defending the Auld Mug in the waters off Barcelona last October, the RNZYS said it pushed to return the event to Auckland. However, it was announced in March they would no longer seek to host the next edition due to a lack of economic support from the government. Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia during the 37th America's Cup Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup Squadron Commodore David Blakey told Morning Report Naples became the best option once Auckland was off the cards. "We actually worked very hard to try and make the event happen in Auckland. As we know, we weren't able to pull that together so then we had to look offshore," Blakey said. "Naples was one of the candidates to put their hand up and were very keen right from the outset to get involved if they could. "They put in a strong bid and they've been successful. "They have the money. They have the strong desire and the passion to have it and they have a large number of supporters there who are ready to host us." Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand Blakey was questioned over whether the average New Zealander was become less engaged in the America's Cup because it was no longer being sailed on their doorstep. He said their first choice was to sail the event in Auckland but said there was positives to taking the racing overseas. "The silver lining here is that it actually provides a fantastic platform for New Zealand to showcase itself in one of the largest markets and I'd love to see the country take advantage again," he said. "We had hundreds of members come with us to Barcelona and there were thousands of Kiwi supporters lining the waterfront in Barcelona. "The team does a fantastic job sailing, they showcase and present on behalf of New Zealand really well." Italians are expected to support the event, with the country's long-standing syndicate Luna Rossa again forecast to be among the strongest challengers. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew celebrate during America's Cup challenger series off Barcelona, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Blakey won't rule out Auckland hosting the next regatta if Team NZ are successful in Naples, saying "no doubt we'll have the opportunity to explore that again and maybe next time the timing's right for New Zealand to have it back here". Meanwhile, he said the "stunning" race headquarters on the Gulf of Naples waterfront would need to undergo infrastructure development, with work to begin soon. "They've got a little bit of work to do around their waterfront, to do some redevelopment, to set up a facility where the teams can base themselves," he said. "They'll have that ready to go by early next year. "The teams can start practising by the next European summer, ready for the event in the summer of 2027." He said they were keen to get the announcement underway to they can get on with building infrastructure. Naples waterfront Photo: photosport "The bay actually curves around so spectators will be able to line up along the waterfront, similar to what we were able to do in Barcelona, and watch from the land," he said. "There'll be a number of vantage points so it should be a spectacular setting for such an event." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
America's Cup: Team New Zealand announces Naples, Italy, will host 38th edition in 2027
'By bringing the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup to this country, it feels like we are bringing it to the people, in our ambition to continually grow the audience of the America's Cup and the sport of sailing. 'Italians are the most passionate and engaged America's Cup audience and obviously it is the home of Luna Rossa, who are such an amazing team and strong competitor. So, from the defender's position, it certainly feels like we are entering the lion's den competitively, but from an event perspective, it feels like the perfect venue to host the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.' While it will be the first time Naples has hosted the America's Cup proper, the city played host to two America's Cup World Series events in 2012 and 2013. Naples, south of Rome on Italy's west coast, had emerged as a strong contender to win hosting rights, with Athens, Greece, believed to have also been in the running. It will create something of a home event for challenging syndicate Luna Rossa, who recently signalled their intention to return to the arena. While there were restrictions on how long teams had to wait after the regatta in Barcelona finished before returning to their AC75s, the Italians have already been sailing their scaled-down AC40. 'Italy has long been one of Team New Zealand's fiercest and most passionate rivals in the America's Cup, and we are thrilled to see Naples, Italy, named as the host venue for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Match,' Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron commodore David Blakey said. 'Bringing the Cup back to Europe – into the heart of one of the world's most vibrant sailing communities – not only honours the rich history of the event, but also creates an incredible opportunity to showcase New Zealand sailing and innovation on a global stage. 'Naples, Italy, promises to be a spectacular setting for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, as well as the Youth and Women's regattas. We are proud to be defending the Cup there in 2027.' The announcement comes a day after Team New Zealand confirmed their core sailors for the new campaign. Nathan Outteridge will take over as skipper after Peter Burling's departure, while Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney, and Sam Meech have all returned for another campaign. The team also confirmed the recruitment of British sailor Chris Draper among that group.
