If you agree elite sport is all about winning, then it's hard to disagree with Team New Zealand's reasons for taking the America's Cup away from Auckland and giving it to Barcelona.
"Our first priority is to look after the members, to make the team competitive, and try and defend the America’s Cup," said Team NZ boss Grant Dalton. "The money on offer, as good as it was in these unprecedented times, just wasn’t enough."
Dalton's first choice and ideal option would've been to defend it in Auckland again.
"If we believed the money was available in New Zealand, we would not be leaving New Zealand," he said. "Why would we? It doesn’t make any sense."
If there's been universal disappointment in losing the next America's Cup, there's also universal praise of Barcelona as a sailing venue. Racing off one of Europe's best cities will be an incredible spectacle too.
"If it can't be Auckland, Barcelona is a great location," said AUT sailing professor Mark Orams. "It's a great sailing city, great conditions."
There's talk a French team may now enter too.
Team New Zealand now have exactly what they want - the money, the team, the designers, the venue - handpicked and locked in.
"Most importantly, the funding that the team needs will allow team New Zealand to lead and force the other teams to chase," said Orams. "They've got a very formidable sailing line-up now too."
Even the official holder of the Cup - the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - insists this gives them the best chance of winning it again.
"The team need money to pay people to put the best design and sail the fastest boat around a course to win the America's Cup," said RNZYS commodore Aaron Young. "That hasn't changed.
"There shouldn't be any excuses for them now."
If there wasn't pressure for Team NZ to deliver before, there sure is now.
