Kiwi boss Grant Dalton on Barcelona's America's Cup selection: "Barcelona is a brilliant place to sail"

After Spain's politicians had already forged ahead and proudly announced their role as the host city for the 37th America's Cup, the holders of the hosting rights followed suit today: Emirates Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron confirmed the choice of the Spanish Olympic metropolis of Barcelona as the venue for the upcoming edition in the super sports year 2024. Because the event funding could not be secured at home in Auckland, the Kiwis are now taking the silverware overseas. This means that the America's Cup will come to Spain for the third time in its history after two editions in Valencia in 2007 and 2010. In a lightning talk shortly after the announcement today, Kiwi boss Grant Dalton spoke to a small group about the selection process, Barcelona's advantages and the chances of defending the Cup away from home in New Zealand. YACHT online was there - here are some extracts:

"I remember Freddie Mercury - as I'm sure you do too"

Grant, why Barcelona, why doesn't the Cup return to Valencia, where it was held twice in 2007 and 2010?

"Valencia was a smaller, less well-known city - at least from a Kiwi perspective. Barcelona is one of the top cities in the world. Certainly one of the top cities in Europe and just a dream destination on anyone's travel bucket list. It's a brilliant place to sail. Barcelona's tourist board is contractually and financially involved. The reception we had there was overwhelming. I don't think Barcelona can be compared with Valencia. Barcelona is also the place where New Zealanders had their most successful Olympic regatta with four medals. And it will now be the only place in the world to have hosted both the Olympic Games and the America's Cup. That played a role in our considerations. We are certainly also influenced a little by Barcelona's romanticism. Why? Because it's Barcelona! I remember Freddie Mercury, as I'm sure you do too. And of course the burning arrow across the stands into the night sky and through the Olympic rings, which then lit the Olympic flame. From an Anglo-Saxon perspective at least, these were the most unforgettable games of the modern era. Of course, these thoughts also played a role."

Is Barcelona's harbour ready?

"It's perfect, almost made for the America's Cup. If Alinghi, for example, is looking for a new home, they can start building tomorrow. A lot of new infrastructure had to be created in Valencia back then. Another criterion is that the America's Cup needs fans. The water is 100 metres deep 100 metres from the beach. So we can get very close to the shore. That was also the case in Jeddah, by the way. There, it is 300 metres deep 80 metres from the beach..."

Aren't you worried about light Mediterranean winds?

"We're all used to the conditions in Valencia in the early summer. But we will be running more towards autumn, because the Olympic Games are still in the middle of it. We had to move to one side or the other. This gives everyone more time to prepare, it gives the teams and the city more space. The wind conditions get better as the year progresses. But it's also true that our boats don't need a lot of wind and certainly no waves. Incidentally, the wind conditions were not demotivating for any of the last four applicants. They all met the criteria."

Are there any new challengers on the horizon in addition to those already accepted?

"Yes, it looks like it. We're close to one. But it's up to them to announce it themselves. Most people will know them. I'm not aware of any others besides this one. But it's not impossible either."

Has there been any feedback from the challengers to the Barcelona election?

Although the protocol does not provide for the Challenger of Record to be directly involved in this decision, we are in very close contact with Ben Ainslie and Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos Britannia. Our relationship is rock solid. As we're sitting here, I get a WhatsApp message from Jim. He writes: 'Brilliant choice, Grant! Well done!' The relationship with Jim and the team is strong and we intend to keep it that way. Last time it was an absolute disaster(Editor's note: this refers to the co-operation between the New Zealand defenders and the Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team as "Challenger of Record" in the 36th America's Cup)."

Will the losers in the battle for the hosting rights be able to count on compensation in the form of pre-races of the World Series?

"It's still too early for details, but we will certainly consider this for the World Series. i would really like to bring it to Jeddah. That's the future. There, 67 per cent of the population is under 34 years old. Sailing is one of the five pillar sports. We have absolute support for this from the World Sailing Federation. And also to Malaga. It would be great, and it is(Ed.: from Barcelona) just down the road. But today belongs to Barcelona. Talks like this start tomorrow."

"The team loses its focus at home"

Will Team New Zealand lose its home advantage by defending from Barcelona?

"I'm now convinced that staying at home as a team is a total disadvantage. Why do I say that? I believe that a home game fuelling self-satisfaction. The family birthday party quickly becomes more important than the current work on the foil design. And the team loses its focus. The clichés become classics. We are not at our best as defenders, we are at our best as challengers, in attack mode. We'll be much sharper away from home. Of course it's much nicer for the fans when we're sailing at home. But not for the team as a winning machine."

What can you do for the New Zealand fans?

"Of course we want to open the doors wide for them and put together travel packages. We agree with everyone in Barcelona on that. We are expecting thousands of New Zealand fans in Barcelona. The accusations that we do nothing for our fans are absolutely false. We are looking after them. Let me put it this way: Would Kiwis rather watch us get thrashed at home, or watch it on TV, or even come here and see us hopefully have a chance to defend successfully? I just can't get it through my skull how anyone can think that you'd rather stay at home to lose."

Here is the first trailer, which Barcelona as the new venue for the America's Cup (please click!).