Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defender of the America’s Cup, has issued an official statement responding to recent public remarks from Challenger of Record Athena Racing and fellow challenger American Magic. The Defender addressed claims regarding a lack of transparency in the lead-up to the 38th America’s Cup and sought to clarify its position on both the event protocol and the host venue selection process.
A New Collaborative Approach
The team emphasized its commitment to evolving the America’s Cup through a more collaborative structure. In an “unprecedented move,” Emirates Team New Zealand revealed that it has been working in close partnership not only with the Challenger of Record but also with all prospective teams to shape the Protocol for the 38th edition of the event.
“This process has resulted in a draft Protocol that reflects the contributions and positions of all teams,” said Emirates Team New Zealand. “However, the collaborative nature of this process has inevitably extended the timeframe for finalization.”
Protocol Transparency
The latest draft of the Protocol was shared with Athena Racing 10 days prior to the public announcement of Naples, Italy, as the 2027 host city. According to the Defender, no formal feedback has been received from Athena Racing, other than confirmation that the document was well received by other teams.
Due to what it described as “unreasonable allegations” from Athena Racing and American Magic, the Defender has now made the draft Protocol publicly available. “This decision is a demonstration of our commitment to full transparency,” the statement read.
Host Venue Agreement and NDA Dispute
Regarding the host venue, Emirates Team New Zealand reiterated that the selection of Naples was not only a strategic move but also a contractual obligation agreed upon with the Challenger of Record—to confirm the host city by June 19, 2025. The announcement, made ahead of schedule, was intended to provide clarity and planning certainty for all participants.
In response to concerns raised about access to the Host Venue Agreement (HVA), the Defender clarified that all teams have been invited to review the agreement, provided they sign a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) due to the commercial sensitivities involved.
“The Defender is still awaiting the return of the signed NDA from Athena Racing,” the team noted, implying that the lack of access to the HVA cited by Athena Racing is a result of their own inaction.
Looking Ahead
Emirates Team New Zealand’s public release of the draft Protocol and clarification regarding the host city selection appear to be strategic moves to ease mounting tension within the America’s Cup community. However, it remains to be seen whether these steps will satisfy the concerns of challengers or further highlight the growing divide in the lead-up to the 38th Match.
