EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND POSITION ON SUPERYACHTS ANCHORAGE FEE

In response to this morning NZ Herald article:

Emirates Team New Zealand stands firmly in support of the Marine Industry Association and Peter Busfield in relation to scalping of superyachts around the America’s Cup with anchorage fees which it sees as extremely short-sighted.

The example stated by Busfield around Sardinia imposing a similar fee and it’s detrimental effect on the super yacht visits is a very well-illustrated case that owners will simply chose to go to other destinations around the world out of principle at being unnecessarily gouged.

As well as the Sardinia example, we saw at the America’s Cup’s in Valencia in 2007 and Bermuda in 2017, that attempts to gouge the superyacht owners meant they simply didn’t come. Our philosophy of a fair and inclusive event not only applies to competitors but also all supporters both locally and internationally  regardless of who they are.

Emirates Team New Zealand have a very strong relationship with Panuku and Auckland Council around accommodating superyachts within the America’s Cup Village in typical welcoming kiwi fashion.

But by all estimates the demand for the 73 America’s Cup village berths will far exceed the supply, so there will be a large number of superyachts that will need to anchor around the Hauraki Gulf that could simply otherwise decide not to come when stung with an excessive fee just to drop an anchor.