Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton has confirmed the 2021 America's Cup will be held in Auckland.
Dalton announced the venue and race dates, at a glitzy event on the Isle of Wight on Saturday morning (NZ time).
The Cup holders announced the 36th edition of yachting's greatest race will take place between March 6-21, 2021, between Team New Zealand and the winner of the Prada Cup challenger series in a best-of-13 Cup match, with the winner being the first to seven points.
Racing is expected to start between 4pm and 6pm NZ time.
In accordance with the Protocol for the 36th America’s Cup, the race course area for the Prada Cup and America’s Cup was also announced.
The racing area is defined by a varied area outlined across the wider Hauraki Gulf, running south along the North Shore beaches around North Head encompassing the inner Waitemata harbour right up to Auckland's iconic harbour bridge and downtown CBD, across Auckland’s Eastern suburbs and all the way out the Tamaki Strait between Waiheke Island and Maraetai.
"There is a reason that Auckland is world renowned as 'The City of Sails' and for its sailing conditions," said Dalton.
"We're very fortunate that the geography of Auckland allows us so many exciting and challenging race course options in close proximity to elevated vantage points for spectators on land."
The definitive race distance will depend on the wind speed and selected race course each day with an anticipated 35-minute race duration, including pre-start, based on a typical windward-leeward configuration with potential for a dramatic final reaching leg to the finish line.
Newshub.
