Yachting: Auckland likely to host America's Cup world series event

Herald online

1 Nov, 2014 06:57 PM2 mins to read

Team New Zealand's Grant Dalton, left, and Dean Barker. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland is likely to host one of the America's Cup World Series events, which are slated to begin next year.

The World Series runs for two seasons in 2015 and 2016, ahead of the America's Cup qualifiers, playoffs and finals in 2017.

In a regatta memorandum issued to the teams yesterday, the Cup's commercial commissioner Harvey Schiller confirmed two World Series events have already met the hosting criteria and had been scheduled to be raced in 2015 by the America's Cup Event Authority.

Further events will be added to the calendar as hosting agreements are concluded and subject to the unanimous consent of the teams.

"This is the first time in America's Cup history that each of the teams has been given an opportunity to host America's Cup World Series events," Schiller said.

"All six teams are interested in hosting at least one event in either 2015 or 2016 and we're working with each team to convert that interest into a concrete event plan."

The two confirmed host venues will announce their events in the coming weeks with the first announcement expected on November 5.

All racing in the World Series will take place in foiling versions of the one-design AC45 catamarans.

Powered by a highly efficient wing-sail, the foiling version of the AC45 catamaran will lift out of the water, riding on hydrofoils which reduces drag and increases speed.

"It will be a thrilling and spectacular sight to see these boats racing together in a fleet race format, and it will be challenging for the five sailors on board," Schiller said.

The final host venue announcement will be made in December with Bermuda and San Diego the remaining candidates to host the 2017 America's Cup.

"We're moving forward on the host venue agreement," Schiller said.