America's Cup - Auckland's base options shown in animation

North Wharf looking to Wynyard Point - where animation shows J class berthed - Viaduct Basin base location option - America's Cup 2021 © Richard Gladwell

Superyachts moored in the Royal Dockyard adjacent to the America's Cup Village Bermuda, June 2017 - America's Cup Superyacht Regatta © Richard Gladwell

At last week's Auckland Council meeting the Governing Body voted by a 7-12 majority that the Halsey St extension option for hosting the 36th America's Cup would be removed from the short-list of preferences.

The alternative presented by council as "Wynyard Basin" has been animated by ARL/Virtual Eye for Emirates Team New Zealand and shows how the preferred concept will deliver a first class event space with minimal harbour extension.

The Vision:

• A centralised village spanning 700 metres across Auckland Viaduct basin and Wynyard Wharf
• Clustered team bases with public access to view the daily operations or launching and retrieving the spectacular AC75 race yachts
• A legacy Emirates Team New Zealand base and public interactive innovation space
• A centralised media and broadcast centre in the Viaduct Event Centre, where media and imagery will be distributed around the world showcasing Auckland and New Zealand at its best
• Sprawling public space with big screen race viewing and interactive attractions to bring the race action to life
• Bars, Restaurants and cafes spread across the event village
• A world class super yacht berthing facility in Wynyard Wharf and on Site 18 maximising economic return for the economy and marine industry
• A established family and kids play ground in the Silo park
• A concert and performance stage and grandstand in the heart of the Wynyard Quarter to showcase New Zealand's musical and cultural performers
• A legacy plan including non permanent team bases that make way for waterfront public space opening up the harbour for all Auckland's to use

Sail-World - No plan has been adopted yet, and the video is "artist's impression" only. The final plan will be voted on by the Council's Governing Body in December. With both the Wynyard Basin and Wynyard Point options there are legal and other contractual negotiations which must be completed before they can proceed.

The "preferred" option by Auckland Council is for the Wynyard Basin which is the option on which this animation appears to be based, however there are three bases and launching dock on the eastern side of Wynyard Point - the docks are missing from the animation - and manoeuvring and berthage space is very tight in this area, restricting the size of boat that can be accommodated.

Wynyard Basin which isthe preferred option. It involves the closing of half of Brigham Street and for bases to be built across the closed street and hard against the silos. ETNZ is expected to take Site 8, all the other sites launching into the basis are for single boat teams, meaning the two-boat challengers will have Site 4 and the other sites on Brigham Street(eastern side of the Wynyard Viaduct). - photo © Auckland Council http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz