Bon dia Barcelona!
The announcement that the 37th America’s Cup is to be held in Barcelona, Spain in 2024, was met with mixed reaction by the global sailing community, as the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand dramatically declared the choice of venue a day ahead of schedule.
It’s news that’s been eagerly awaited since the Kiwis successfully retained the Auld Mug on home waters in March 2021; within minutes of their victory the debate around the next venue had begun raging. But posturing aside, in accordance with the Deed of Gift, the final decision was always in the hands of the team and their club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Amidst huge controversy (see p31) team CEO Grant Dalton has insisted that his overseas search for financial security is to ensure they can stage a successful defence, and is firmly in New Zealand’s longer term interests.
And his rationale in choosing Barcelona was no less philanthropic; he fronted the announcement by saying: “As Defender of
