America's Cup: Sixth Challenger confirmed for Auckland
by Emirates Team New Zealand 20 Dec 2018 17:20 PST
21 December 2018
Skipper Simeon Tienpont after winning Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, © Richard Gladwell
Emirates Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are pleased to announce the acceptance of a sixth Challenger for the 36th Americas Cup, from The Netherlands.
The joint Royal Netherlands Yacht Club Muiden and Royal Maas Yacht Club challenge comes from one of the worlds most famous maritime nations. They now join Luna Rossa (ITA), American Magic (USA), INEOS Team UK (UK), Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) and Stars & Stripes Team USA (USA).
The latest challenge now brings the 36th Americas Cup presented by Prada line up to seven teams, the most since the 32nd Americas Cup in 2007 in Valencia.
Emirates Team New Zealand said, This is really positive news for the Auckland event in 2021.
The reality is, the more teams that race in the Prada Cup Challenger Selection Series, the greater the spectacle on the water and the better the economic return off the water for Auckland and New Zealand. This has always been the overarching objective of Emirates Team New Zealand since we won the Americas Cup in 2017.
We will be reaching out to Prada and the Challenger of Record to discuss further planning for the events in light of this exciting news. We are hoping and expect them to embrace this latest entry in line with the underlying philosophy of the Americas Cup being a friendly competition between foreign countries.
Today Emirates Team New Zealand have advised the Auckland Council and Government that if there ultimately are not six challengers, there is an option not to build the Hobson Wharf extension as five teams can be accommodated on Wynyard Point saving taxpayer money.