![](\"https:\/\/sea-tec.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/americas.jpg\" "\\"americas\\"")
<\/span><\/div>AMERICA\u2019S CUP STATEMENT SPAT: TEAMS ARGUE ABOUT \u2018TRANSPARENCY\u2019<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
It\u2019s been quite the 24 hours in MIN\u2018s inbox as Athena Racing, American Magic and Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) engage in a \u2018he said \/ she said\u2019 about the next edition of the America\u2019s Cup. There\u2019s been accusations of \u2018unreasonable allegations\u2019, \u2018lack of transparency\u2019, \u2018premature announcements\u2019 and NDAs remaining unsigned.<\/p>\n
And when all the statements are unpicked? It looks like the challengers want more changes to the protocol, the protocol should have been agreed by all, and only then should the host city have been announced. But no ones officially mentions the specifics underneath the wide-ranging word \u2018transparency\u2019.<\/p>\n
First off the block, Athena Racing, part of Brit Sir Ben Ainslie\u2019s empire, disseminated a statement (22 May) to raise the issue of whether a fair sporting protocol is being negotiated for the 38th America\u2019s Cup. The statement accuses both Team New Zealand (TNZ) and the government of Italy of lacking transparency when it comes to the agreement to use Naples as the host venue. And, making premature announcements.<\/p>\n
Swiftly following Athena\u2019s statement, American Magic weighed in, saying it\u2019s found itself at a \u2018crossroads\u2019. The US-based team is urging the defender \u2014 Team New Zealand \u2014 \u201cto work in good faith with the Challenger of Record [Athena Racing] to restore the elements of fair competition, transparency, and respect for all sailors, globally, who are ultimately the beneficiaries of this time-honoured trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then, of course, came the rebuttal from TNZ. It says it has been \u2018working closely and positively with all teams on moving the America\u2019s Cup to a new collaborative partnership and structure\u2019 and goes on to talk around strengthening the future of the cup for the benefit of the event and \u2018all current and future teams\u2019.<\/p>\n
Disagreement about transparency of Naples as host venue
\nAthena Racing says it\u2019s been in negotiations on a protocol for the 38th America\u2019s Cup with the defender on behalf of all the challengers for the last seven months (its full statement is online). Athena says it\u2019s aiming to deliver a fair sporting framework and commercially viable event for all America\u2019s Cup stakeholders.<\/p>\n
But, the Athena statement says: \u201cDespite recent progress being made, significant barriers remain.\u201d<\/p>\n
It adds: \u201cTypically, a host agreement has only followed the publication of an agreed protocol. In the absence of an agreed protocol, it is therefore 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny hosting agreement will bind challengers to financial and organisational obligations, as well as potential liabilities, making its disclosure fundamental to teams\u2019 participation and commitment to the 38th\u202fAmerica\u2019s Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Athena Racing alludes to its concerns
\nAthena Racing \u2013 part of the Athena Sports Group (Ainslie is the founder and CEO) which includes the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and the Athena Pathway development programme) \u2013 says its \u201cconcerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a host city for the cup in 2027 and the impact this is having on the main goal of negotiating a fair sporting protocol.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we have every confidence that Naples can be a magnificent host for the America\u2019s Cup, we believe that transparency and cooperation between the defender and all challengers is vital for the cup\u2019s future and therefore the recent announcements from the defender are premature, at best.\u201d<\/p>\n
These sentiments echo what was said previously by Red Bull, which withdrew from the cup earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite all our efforts, we \u2014 Alinghi Red Bull Racing \u2014 have not been able to find agreement with the defender of the America\u2019s Cup for the future of the event,\u201d its statement read in late April. \u201cWe would like to have seen more accountability, greater transparency and new opportunities to perform not only individually but as a group. That way we might all of us together could have delivered a commercially viable event capable of attracting global TV coverage, spectators, and sponsors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naples
\nView of Naples, venue for 38th America\u2019s Cup
\nProtocol delay due to multi-team input
\nTNZ says it\u2019s been working in conjunction with all teams on the development of the protocol for the past few months. It calls this working together \u2018unprecedented\u2019 (the full statement can be read online). TNZ says this has resulted in the current protocol incorporating many ideas and positions of the teams, but that: \u201cAs a result of the significant teams input the completion of the protocol has been prolonged.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, TNZ claims that Athena Racing didn\u2019t give any feedback on the latest version of the protocol which was sent to it, ten days prior to the announcement of Naples as the host venue, \u201cother than acknowledgement it had been well received by the teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of the transparency debate, TNZ has now published the draft protocol online. It\u2019s doing this to rebut \u201cunreasonable allegations\u201d and \u201cas an illustration of complete transparency.\u201d That dainty missive \u2013 circa 75 pages \u2013 is available to peruse online.<\/p>\n
In the spirit of getting it all out there, TNZ has also had a pop about Athena Racing not signing NDAs.<\/p>\n
Team New Zealand\u2019s statement continues: \u201cIt 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\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhead of time, the teams now have that knowledge and understanding with the exciting announcement of Naples, Italy in 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defender is yet to receive the returned NDA\u2019s from Athena Racing as Challenger of Record.\u201d<\/p>\n
Differences in \u2014 and questions about \u2014 protocol
\nRichard Gladwell has written an explainer in differences of protocol, from the last cup. In it, he highlights that much of the draft protocol that governed the 2024 America\u2019s Cup in Barcelona had been rolled over.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest change is that the events Preliminary Events, Youth and Womens, Challenger Selection Series and the America\u2019s Cup Match are to be run by a new group America\u2019s Cup Partnership (ACP formed from the challenging teams and the defender). Previously all events were run by America\u2019s Cup Events (ACE), the event arm of Emirates Team New Zealand. . . ACP is bound by the decision and actions already taken by ACE. . . The contentious aspect of ACP is that it will be responsible for the management of AC38 and future cycles of the America\u2019s Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gladwell says that there is no provision for inspection of the financial records of ACP or whether it will be subject to the overall control of a board. \u201cOnce a team is out of the next cup cycle, it\u2019s assumed they would cease to be part of ACP, and don\u2019t have any ongoing role in an event in which they are not racing. \u2026 This needs to be clarified in the protocol,\u201d says Gladwell. \u201cNeither is there mention of distribution of surplus revenues or cost over-run from the event management of the 38th America\u2019s Cup, or who is liable for an over-run. The fate of any assets acquired by ACP are not disclosed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of the financial and transparency questions disappear if all teams have board representation \u2014 but this structure is not in the protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n
American Magic\u2019s current position
\nAmerican Magic believes that without the structural framework necessary for challengers to pursue viable campaigns, it will remain extremely difficult to unlock the America\u2019s Cup\u2019s potential as a modern, globally relevant sports property (read its full statement online).<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the best efforts of the challengers \u2013 led by the Challenger of Record \u2013 to negotiate in good faith, the defender has been unwilling to commit to the transparency and cooperation necessary to secure a fair protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organisation continues: \u201cWe continue to support the Challenger of Record in their efforts to secure an open and balanced protocol, as without the meaningful changes they are advocating, it is difficult to see how NYYC American Magic can participate in the 38th America\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we remain committed to the America\u2019s Cup and would welcome the opportunity to compete under a fair protocol, we are equally committed to integrity, transparency, and the long-term health of the institution that is the America\u2019s Cup. We urge the defender, as trustee, to work in good faith with the Challenger of Record to restore the elements of fair competition, transparency, and respect for all sailors, globally, who are ultimately the beneficiaries of this time-honoured trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
American Magic’s AC75 boat, Patriot, is training on Pensacola Bay for The 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona 2024. Credit American Magic
\nNaples chosen in rapid venue selection
\nWhen the organisers of the Louis Vuitton 38th America\u2019s Cup confirmed that the Italian city of Naples will be the host venue for the competition in 2027, the announcement was made in collaboration with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.<\/p>\n
Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton confirmed that Naples was selected following a rapid venue selection process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be more excited to announce Naples, Italy as the host venue of the Louis Vuitton 38th America\u2019s Cup,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cItalians are the most passionate and engaged America\u2019s Cup audience, and obviously it is the home of Luna Rossa \u2026 it certainly feels like we are entering the lion\u2019s den competitively, but from an event perspective it feels like the perfect venue to host the Louis Vuitton 38th America\u2019s Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: MarineIndustryNews.co.uk<\/p>\n<\/div>