As a Kiwi sailor and being part of Eden Park Bed and Breakfast and Supercare4u.com in Auckland, I am a TRUE BLACK supporter of the announcement that Team New Zealand ,backed by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron , have officially announced their challenge for the 35th Americas Cup .
The Kiwi syndicate, became the first team to officially announce their challenge .
Scuttlebutt in the yachting circles says that Italian team Luna Rossa and Artemis submitted their entries before Emirates Team New Zealand, but have yet to officially announce their challenge. Others who have signalled they'll be throwing their hat in the ring are Ben Ainslie Racing (GBR) and a French challenge led by Franck Cammas, bringing the suggested total of challengers for the 2017 event to five . But scuttlebutt also says that this is all supposition because some believe that the funding for these challengers it's not guaranteed.
After the withdrawal of the Challenger of Record ( Australia) last month, Oracle have been desperately trying to salvage the public relations fiasco surrounding the race. It is expected that the role of (COR ) will go to the first challenger to submit their entry, rumoured to be Luna Rossa.
Supposedly we are also led to believe that the Italian team led the way in rallying their fellow intended challengers to issue a joint accord statement to reiterate their support for the event following Team Australia's withdrawal . (I note Team New Zealand's non participation in this accord.)
After last years racing and our demoralising defeat to the enemy( Oracle ) , I am still a firm believer that we have the technological
skill and the sailers to take this piece of silver from the Americans .
Go Kiwis!
