Luna Rossa tactician Brad Butterworth has hit back at Auckland Mayor Phil Goff saying he needs to fix the stoush between his side and Team New Zealand.
The festering feud between Team NZ and the Italian challenger-of-record has erupted into a war of accusations after Luna Rossa won an appeal to have two offshore racecourses dropped from the regatta this summer.
After the Auckland harbourmaster restricted challengers' access to the tracks off Takapuna and Devonport, an America's Cup arbitration panel ruled they could not be used for the subsequent America's Cup defence.
The decision "outraged" Team NZ boss Grant Dalton as the two courses offer spectators the best view of racing from land, and are considered crucial to funding agreements with central and local government.
On Thursday, Goff said this as an argument that the teams must sort out, but speaking to the AM Show, Butterworth said he disagrees with the Mayor's assessment.
"It's not really a stoush with the challengers, it's a stoush between Team NZ and the local authorities," says Butterworth.
"The Mayor could do something about it, he runs the city doesn't he? He can talk to the harbourmaster and the Ports of Auckland.
"It's got nothing to do with me and Grant Dalton. It's a problem he's got with the local authorities about when he can run the races.
"Luna Rossa just wants the rules that they signed on in the beginning honoured. Any one of the courses they deemed good for the day of racing."
Goff met with Luna Rossa in a pre-arranged meeting and said they will work alongside the teams, but he did put the onus on the America's Cup rivals.
"We obviously want to see the issues between the defender and challengers resolved," says Goff. "We will work to encourage resolution of the disputes, but in the end, it's the teams themselves that must sort this out.
"In delivering its verdict last week, the arbitration panel left the door ajar for a different outcome "provided all competitors unanimously agree thereon".
Luna Rossa needs to overcome American Magic and INEOS Team UK in the Prada Cup challenger regatta to qualify for the America's Cup, which begins in March.
As a compromise, Newshub understands Team NZ has offered not to train on the two courses during the challenger series.
