America's Cup: First weekend postponed - Wednesday first possible race day

America's Cup Village, Auckland Viaduct Harbour © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

America's Cup 36 permitted organiser, America's Cup Events Ltd have announced that the first weekend of the 36th America’s Cup Match is postponed.

In light of the latest Auckland COVID-19 Level 3 lockdown put in place by the Government from 6am this morning for the next 7 days, America’s Cup Event Ltd has postponed the first weekend of racing on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of March.

The purpose of this early decision is to provide at least some certainty in planning for all event stakeholders with regard to next weekend initially.

America’s Cup Event Ltd Chair, Tina Symmans said, “ACE has always said that it wishes to hold as much of the racing under Level 1 restrictions as possible. But to be prudent, ACE will apply for an exemption to race under Level 3 restrictions so as to keep as many options open as possible. However, racing will not occur before at least Wednesday 10th March.”

In the meantime, ACE will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities over the next few days as this latest COVID situation unfolds.

“We need to understand all likely scenarios so that an updated racing schedule can be put in place whilst also ensuring the regulatory requirements are met,” concluded Symmans.

S-W: While the AC teams can operate, it is unclear if they will sail in the coming week.

Many professional sports with substantial TV committments etc have made alternative arrangements to enable their sports to take place, without formal exemptions being granted, and the America's Cup exemption is, in our humble view, likely to be declined.