While the jubilation over the success of the "team of five million" in the Pacific state of New Zealand is far from over and fans around the world are revelling in images and clips from the 36th America's Cup match, the foundations for the 37th America's Cup have already been laid. What exactly it will look like and what will be built on it, however, remains the secret of the old and new defenders and their future "Challenger of Record". According to reports in the New Zealand media, this has already been found and sealed with Sir Ben Ainslie's Ineos Team UK. Although there is still no official confirmation of this by name from the teams involved, well-informed Kiwi media are generally reporting this new New Zealand-British marriage as a fact. Such as the online magazine "stuff": "Team UK is the next Challenger of Record to work alongside defender Team New Zealand. Sir Ben Ainslie's syndicate, backed by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will replace Italian campaign Luna Rossa in the next Cup cycle."
The "divorce" from the previous Italian "Challenger of Record" and the "remarriage" to the British does not suggest that there was much harmony between New Zealanders and Azzurri during the preparations for the 36th America's Cup in challenging pandemic times - otherwise a continuation of the "marriage" would certainly have been the easier option for Emirates Team New Zealand than getting used to a new partner again. It is not yet clear what tipped the scales in favour of the new "Cup marriage" between Kiwis and Brits. One exciting rumour follows the next. Such as the idea of a possible exclusive duel between New Zealand and the Cup mother country Great Britain next year off the Isle of Wight, where it all began in 1851. A crazy idea? A historical dream scenario? Would the Kiwis never do it? Nobody really knows at the moment. British racing team owner Jim Ratcliffe would probably have the financial means to fund such a "Deed of Gift" match to the satisfaction and enthusiasm of the teams involved. He is considered the wealthiest man in Great Britain.
EXCLUSIVE MATCH IN THE MOTHERLAND?
However, the hotly debated potential "match in the motherland" could just as easily be a well-calculated and cleverly spread rumour by the Kiwis to achieve what has already been started: to persuade their government, beyond the effusive congratulations of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to give early assurances of strong financial support for the follow-up campaign so that the national heroes don't even think about swapping their home sailing paradise of New Zealand for one overseas for the next defence for monetary reasons. At the moment, the Kiwis at the levers of power are keeping the Cup world waiting for an outline of the future - and fuelling the bubbling rumour mill all the more.
Only the royal connection between the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) in Auckland and the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) on the Isle of Wight seems to actually exist, even if it has so far remained officially unconfirmed by name. All that is confirmed is that there was a challenge, which was accepted. It is also confirmed that British RYS Commodore James Sheldon and his team have been in Auckland over the past few days watching the grand final. RNZYS Commodore Hayden Porter confirmed to several New Zealand media outlets: "We have received a challenge for the 37th America's Cup. There are a lot of details to come; discussions will develop over the coming days, weeks and months. Everything else will emerge from that. This has all taken place on the water - all the details will be revealed in a little while."
The seventh and final race day of the 36th America's Cup to savour
America's Cup fans and potential teams for the new cycle are holding their breath and eagerly awaiting the most important information. The Prada patriarch Patrizio Bertelli, who has been celebrated enthusiastically on all the front pages in Italy and is highly revered for his consistency in the battle for the America's Cup, has already stated via his Cup sailors that he would be ready for a seventh challenge. However, this would also require a 37th America's Cup, which would be open to all interested challengers. The oldest contested trophy in the sporting world remains a piece of silverware of great desire, and not just for Bertelli. For the time being, however, the kitschy, ornate jug will remain in its familiar display case in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's own room - when it is not on one of the victorious team's planned triumphant tours of the home country.
One of the big winners of the 36th America's Cup is "The Boss": Grant Dalton, as the notoriously critical New Zealand media, with whom Dalton has been at loggerheads on more than one occasion, attests, has finally stepped out of the long shadow of his legendary predecessor Sir Peter Blake, whose name has been synonymous with New Zealand sailing quality since the Kiwis' first Cup victory in 1995. The circumnavigator, Cup triumphant and environmentalist Sir Peter Blake, who was murdered by pirates during an Amazon expedition on 6 December 2001, co-founded and heralded the successful Cup era of his compatriots more than three decades ago. Grant Dalton has long since become his confident successor. The five-time Whitbread Round-the-World skipper and warhorse took over the Cup helm for the Kiwis on the hour mark after a depressing 5-0 home defeat in Auckland in 2003. Dalton has come a long, long way with his team since then for good reason, even if he had to put up with the Kiwis' dramatic 8:9 defeat to Oracle Team USA in San Francisco in 2013 in the interim and almost resigned. But he is too much of a fighter and proud New Zealander for that - in good times and bad. After two wins in a row, "Dalts" remains the linchpin in shaping the future of the Cup.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
