America’s Cup 2021: Auckland Mayor Phil Goff calls crisis meeting with teams over latest outbreak

Crisis talks will take place in Auckland tomorrow morning in an attempt to resolve the latest showdown involving the America’s Cup.

The Herald understands that Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has requested an urgent meeting with key stakeholders in the race, including Nick Hill, Auckland’s Executive Director of Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed).

The decision to remove fields B and C from the inland harbor for next year’s event will mean, according to TNZ, that views of the city will be lost and spectators “will lose the best viewing experience.”

Last week TNZ said they were “outraged that after three years of planning an event at a ground stadium,” Luna Rossa had “screwed up” the concept. He accused the Italian challengers of “campaigning through the arbitration panel” and “misleading the New Zealand public.”

But kiwi sailing legend and four-time America’s Cup winner Brad Butterworth, who was hired by Luna Rossa last month, told NZME that the British and American teams had backed the Italian position. He said rivals found they would not have access to those areas during the Rivals’ Prada Cup, giving home team defenders a tactical advantage.

In a letter to TNZ’s Stephen Tindall and Grant Dalton, INEOS Team UK’s Ben Ainslie and Grant Simmer, Francesco Longanesi Cattani and Max Sirena of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, and Hap Fauth and Terry Hutchinson of the New York Yacht Club American Magic, Goff he expressed “intense disappointment” Wednesday at seeing the courses eliminated.

“This decision has caused consternation among New Zealanders and Aucklanders who have contributed through their fees and taxes to organize the event,” Goff wrote in the letter, obtained by the Herald.

“I cannot stress enough how much damage this can do to support and enthusiasm for the event. Nor will the reputation of the event be enhanced by ‘speaking through the media.’

Goff urged the unions to “collectively do everything possible to solve the problems that have led to this result.”

“As a city, we have played our role to make the event memorable and valuable to you and we ask that you do your best to ensure that the public can share in the event by being able to watch it from shore when conditions permit. To compete. in Courses B and C. “

Goff’s intervention is the latest event in a week of confusion for TNZ. Top Brazilian boat builder Manoel Chaves threatened legal action against the Kiwi team for allegedly copying their design for the foiling monohulls to be used in the regatta.

In a letter to the Herald, TNZ rejected the allegations, adding that they “would strongly resist any allegation of infringement.” [Chaves] you may choose to bring “.