The New Zealand America's Cup defenders have announced a further challenger for the 36th edition of the Cup with readable and audible pleasure: The joint announcement by the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeil- & Roeivereeniging Muiden and the Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereeniging 'De Maas' has been confirmed. This means that one of the most sailing-enthusiastic European nations is now also in the game - but initially without any further information about the team or its main players being announced. After the Italian "Challenger of Record", Patrizio Bertelli's Team Luna Rossa and Sir Ben Ainslie's British Ineos Team UK, American Magic, the Malta Altus Challenge and Team Stars & Stripes from Long Island Yacht Club in America, the Dutch are the fifth official challenger confirmed by the Kiwis.
The New Zealand Cup defenders expressed their enthusiasm in a press release: "This is good news for the 2021 event! Because the reality is this: The more teams that compete in the Prada Cup Challenger Series, the bigger the spectacle on the water and the better the economic return for Auckland and New Zealand. This has always been the overarching goal of Emirates Team New Zealand since we won the Cup in 2017."
The defenders have announced further talks with their negotiating partner on the challengers' side. Plans for the field of participants, which is currently growing by the week, are to be discussed with Team Luna Rossa, led by Prada patriarch and Cup enthusiast Patrizio Bertelli. At the same time, Emirates Team New Zealand has informed Auckland City Council and the New Zealand government that if six challengers do not come together, there is an option not to build the planned Hobson Wharf extension because five challengers could be accommodated in the future Cup centre at Wynyard Point, thereby saving taxpayers' money.
However, despite their official confirmation by the New Zealanders, the most recently accepted challenges are still far from the finish line. There have also been accepted challengers in the past who have later had to withdraw due to a lack of sufficient funding, such as the Italian team Mascalzone Latino before the 34th edition of the Cup in 2013 or the Hamilton Island Yacht Club before the 35th edition. According to reports from Dutch sailing circles, two-time America's Cup winner (with Oracle Team USA) and circumnavigator Simeon Tienpont is behind the Dutch entry. Tienpont last sailed in the 35th America's Cup for Softbank Team Japan with skipper Dean Barker, so he knows a thing or two about the most prestigious regatta in the international sailing world.
In an information letter to the members of the challenging Dutch clubs, Tienpont is quoted by several sources as saying: "The Dutch maritime sector is recognised as a world market leader. You can add that our competitive sailors are among the best in the world. Now there is an opportunity for the Netherlands to bring a Dutch challenge to the water for the first time in history." In 2016, the Dutch were the second most successful sailing nation at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This year, they won the Nations Championship in the combined world championship of all Olympic sailing disciplines. With Volvo Ocean Race winner Carolijn Brouwer, a Dutch woman was voted World Sailor of the Year 2018. So can the Cup premiere succeed on the basis of this strong national enthusiasm for sailing?
The entry fee of one million US dollars and a further instalment of one million US dollars were already due for all accepted challengers on 30 November. For any late entrants (after the official closing date on 30 November), a further one million US dollars will be due.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
