Conducting the America’s Cup train

The timeline for the 36th America’s Cup marches on with the next three critical dates being:

• November 30, 2017 – AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders.
• January 1, 2018 – Entries for Challengers open.
• March 31, 2018 – AC75 Class Rule published.

What could derail the timeline is the uncertainty in Auckland as to where the boats can be based. It would be awkward to design a boat that doesn’t fit into the plan, and without the plan, it is then hard to design a boat.

What is occurring on the home front is the classic battle of how to spend civic money and use waterfront resources. Business versus environmental interests with political tension mixed in. What Bermuda pushed through takes a bit longer in larger cities.

No shocker how the parties’ visions for the event – and the future of Auckland waterfront – differ greatly.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff favors the cheaper $137 million option that disperses the bases across three city wharves, while Team New Zealand’s preference is to centralize the bases on a 220m extension to Halsey Wharf covering 3ha (322917 sq. ft.) of water space at a cost of $190m.

“Team New Zealand is at the point of finalizing design of the regatta yachts and that has an effect on the practicality of various sites,” said Economic Development Minister David Parker.

Parker said a deal must meet Team NZ’s needs and be acceptable to central Government and Auckland Council and have a reasonable prospect of getting resource consent.

Parker said the effective date for a decision is early January so documents can be prepared to start the planning process.

Source: NZ Herald, Scuttlebutt