Even before the final gun sounded in New Zealand’s favour, however, Emirates Team New Zealand put the host city for the 37th America’s Cup out to tender, in a process run by Origin Sports, a London-based promotions company.
And when ETNZ did win, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing on England’s Isle of Wight was immediately announced as Challenger of Record, suddenly replacing long-involved Prada. More surprising still, a Cowes venue is lately being touted as “hot favourite” to host the next America’s Cup.
Having been at the 2000 and 2003 America’s Cup defences in Auckland, I’ve personally witnessed the absolute elation in retaining the auld mug, and the depths of despair at losing it when two key Kiwis switched sides to the Swiss Alinghi syndicate of pharmaceuticals billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.
New Zealand’s marine industries in particular got a huge boost back then, with orders for new builds, refits and repairs, and for all sorts of marine accessories. Buyers came out of the woodwork. Online video reports were set up for owners in distant Europe and the States to watch their boats building.
In 2003 I wrote a 60-page government-financed insert on New Zealand marine offerings for Yachts International, rival to Boat International, whose first attempt at a Boat International USA folded not long afterwards. The glossy supplement appeared in YI’s Fort Lauderdale Boat Show edition that year.
Marinas were choc-a-bloc, and berths in the Viaduct Harbour, where all the expensive accoutrements for the latest AC are already set up, were full. Since then superyacht-ready Silo Marina has been added, and nearby Westhaven Marina is largest in the southern hemisphere.
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