Auckland, New Zealand – 2/18/2021 – PRADA Cup Finals resumes on Saturday, February 20. Race 5 will see Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli facing INEOS TEAM UK. The race will start on 4:00PM NZT local time weather permitting.
Race 5 and 6 will be held on Saturday and two races a day will follow until one competitor gets to 7 points winning the PRADA Cup. …
COR 36 confirm they want to respect Public Health and the Protocols of the New Zealand Government
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/18/2021– COR 36* offered its full support to the local authorities and America’s Cup Event Ltd (ACE) to implement the Level 2 Alert management plan provided for by the AC36 Event COVID-19 Management On Land and On-
Water Plans to suspend the following activities:
• Main stage – Te Wero Island
• Simulator
• Guests hospitality facilities onshore
• Guests hospitality at sea
• Pre-race public shows
• Giveaways and gifts distribution
As Auckland is at COVID19 Alert Level 2 the following restrictions apply:
• Racecourses B & C will not be used for racing, to mitigate the chance of large public gatherings onshore, which are in line with Government Level 2 restrictions.
• No public viewing opportunities such as dock-out shows or public screening of racing in the race village.
• Including gatherings of no more than 100 people in the America’s Cup Race Village or public spectator vantage points around Auckland.
• Limited village activations to ensure no more than 100 people.
• 2-meter (6 feet) physical distancing and face masks recommended.
• All bars, restaurants, and cafes surrounding the Race Village can remain open in line with the Ministry of Health COVID19 Level 2 Guidelines.
• Public are reminded to always scan the NZCOVID19 Tracer App.
* COR36 is the operational arm of the Challenger of Record for the 36th America’s Cup and is responsible for the organization of the America’s Cup World Series, the Christmas Regatta and the Challenger Selection Series – the Prada Cup, leading up to the America’s Cup Match which will take place in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2021.
ACE vs. Challenger of Record (COR 36) – Teams will continue racing this weekend
ACE considers the best solution that can be hoped for is to continue racing this weekend
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/18/2021– In a late-night press release, America’s Cup Event Ltd (ACE) said it is encouraged by the news that Auckland has come down to COVID Alert Level 2, one step closer to Level 1 potentially early next week. It continued, “It is clear that COR [Challenger of Record America’s Cup 36 (COR 36)] are determined to remain inflexible to a change in the race schedule against the interests of the public and commercial benefits to the city and businesses.” ACE concluded by stating that “ACE has consistently mainta ined our preference to have the best opportunity to race at Alert Level 1.”
Chair of ACE Tina Symmans said, “This is a disappointing situation, it is my responsibility to do my best to run the event with the best interests of the public and all stakeholders in mind. So with the current impasse, while not agreeing with the Challenger of Record [COR], we want to see the regatta completed on the water”.
ACE now considers the best solution that can be hoped for is to continue racing this weekend, which will at least allow as much opportunity as possible for the public to enjoy viewing it in small gatherings or via the TV broadcast.
“Since Sunday, we have worked really hard on behalf of everyone in Auckland and all Kiwis to give COR the opportunity to demonstrate some honour and respect for this country and delay the PRADA Cup until we have a greater chance of everyone being able to enjoy and benefit from being back into Level 1,” explained Symmans.
“Clearly they have forgotten the words of their leader Patricio Bertelli at the opening press conference who spoke about how privileged everyone is to be in Auckland without significant Covid restrictions and that therefore everyone has a commitment and responsibility to deliver great sportsmanship and the PRADA Cup to be a major sporting event.”
“This plea has fallen on deaf ears and it’s clear that their focus is solely on Luna Rossa taking the PRADA Cup rather than the greater good of the country who have worked so hard in order to be in a position to stage this event.” Symmans concluded.
With this in mind, racing under COVID 19 Level 2 can continue with the following restrictions:
- Racecourses B & C will not be used for racing, to mitigate the chance of large public gatherings onshore, which are in line with Government Level 2 restrictions.
- No public viewing opportunities such as dock-out shows or public screening of racing in the race village.
- Including gatherings of no more than 100 people in the America’s Cup Race Village or public spectator vantage points around Auckland.
- Limited village activations to ensure no more than 100 people.
- 2 metre ( 6 feet) physical distancing and face masks recommended.
- All bars, restaurants, and cafes surrounding the Race Village can remain open in line with Ministry of Health COVID-19 Level 2 Guidelines.
- Public are reminded to always scan the NZCOVID19 Tracer App.
From the New Zealand media:
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/18/2021 – America’s Cup: Mexican stand-off over when Prada Cup Final racing can resume. – Stuff
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/18/2021 – Covid-19: Contact tracing ‘Ferrari’ will be enough to contain future outbreaks. Despite more positive cases, Auckland has moved to alert level 2, while the rest of the country goes back to alert level 1. – Stuff
Challenger Of Record, America’s Cup 36 organizer of the PRADA Cup calls for resuming racing as soon as possible
Aukland, New Zealand – 2/17/2021 – A statement from America’s Cup: Challenger of Record America’s Cup 36 (COR 36) – the organizer of the PRADA Cup – urged America’s Cup Events (ACE) to request an exemption to carry on the Final of the PRADA Cup in compliance with the Racing Calendar and in order to meet the legitimate expectations of the competitors involved, of the international public and of the international television networks who have already programmed their broadcastings.
Unfortunately this did not happen, notwithstanding a protocol and a procedure which were put in place since months in the event such circumstance would occur. COR 36 has been now informed by ACE that they are discussing with the Authorities different options, including the postponement of the racing to the 26th of February; this is in total breach of the regulations, which set the 24th of February as the end of the PRADA Cup, without any possible extension.
COR 36 is indeed endeavouring to ensure that the PRADA Cup Final resumes as early as the 19th of February whilst respecting public health and the protocols imposed by the New Zealand government. COR 36 has also offered its full support to ACE and to the local authorities to immediately implement the Level 3 Alert management plan provided for by the AC36 Event COVID-19 Management On Land and On Water Plans. These plans provide that, in a level 3 COVID-19 alert, the AC36 Village shall be closed and the regattas shall resume “behind closed doors”, without any public, as it already happens for many international sporting events (Formula 1, Australian Open etc.).
This on water management plan has already been tested and can therefore be immediately activated with the approval of the Authorities. Since teams are authorised to sail and practice under COVID-19 level 3 alert, it is hard to understand why racing “behind closed doors” could not be allowed applying the same protocols.
In this context, and in compliance with the regulations, there is no reason to further delay the carrying on of the regattas as scheduled, giving both teams the opportunity to complete the number of races required by the series within the terms and deadlines imposed by the racing calendar. It should be reminded that otherwise Rule A2.3(b) of Appendix A to the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing America’s Cup edition Version 3.03 for the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA – which provide that “….the winner is the team with the highest score at the date of the final scheduled date” – would apply.
COR 36 hopes not to apply this provision and that an exemption to allow racing at the scheduled dates will be granted.
Challenger of Record wants to race despite Covid Alert Level 3
Aukland, New Zealand – 2/17/2021 – This morning the Challenger of Record (COR36) has made their position very clear in stating their desire to race from tomorrow, February 18, despite COVID Alert level 3, to complete the PRADA Cup final by the 24th February in accordance with the existing PRADA Cup conditions.
They have also stated that if the racing program cannot be completed by Wednesday the 24th, they intend to declare the leading point scorer, which is the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, winner of the PRADA Cup and Challenger for the America’s Cup Match. Under the current points situation, that would be Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team.
America’s Cup Event Chair Tina Symmans said, “As event organizers, we have spent a considerable amount of time since Sunday evening looking at all possible scenarios. Like the majority of events around the country this weekend, the ramifications of running the remainder of the event need to be considered in an environment which is highly uncertain due to the latest COVID-19 concerns.”
Symmans explained, “There is no guarantee as to what COVID-19 Alert Level Auckland or New Zealand will be operating under. If the event is faced with operating under COVID-19 Level 2 or 3, plans are in place to ensure the continued delivery and conclusion of the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada within the scheduled dates.”
“Clearly this would have potential implications for public participation which we are trying to avoid, however, the intention of the potential rescheduling will give the best possible opportunity to see the event run with maximum engagement and benefits for public and stakeholders.”
COR36 is the operational arm of the Challenger of Record for the 36th America’s Cup and is responsible for the organization of the America’s Cup World Series, the Christmas Regatta and the Challenger Selection Series – the Prada Cup, leading up to the America’s Cup Match which will take place in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2021.
Covid 19 Update
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/15/2021 – 17:00 – In light of the Government’s COVID19 Level 3 lockdown overnight, America’s Cup Event Ltd and the competing teams are taking all of the necessary steps to continue to work in line with their COVID19 Level 3 working protocols as reviewed with WorkSafe NZ and the Ministry of Health.
As per an AP report, New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland began a three-day lockdown following the discovery of three unexplained cases in the community. Officials say they’ve found no evidence it has spread further, raising hopes the restrictions might be short-lived.
Within the respective plans and protocols, there is a clear distinction between the individual team’s operations and official Prada Cup and America’s Cup racing itself.
For each of the teams; sailing, testing and training on the water is part of the core business of all teams.
As practiced under the previous Level 3 restrictions in 2020, the team’s operations must be undertaken like any commercial business operating on the water, as well as on land, in line with their individual protocols developed with WorkSafe NZ and the Ministry of Health working safely under COVID19 Level 3 restrictions.
From an event perspective; there are a number of plans for different scenarios. With regard to the current situation and rescheduling of on-water racing and onshore event organization, the event organizers are updating plans with respect to maintaining a fluid racing calendar in consultation with the Government and relevant authorities.
Covid 19 Update
Auckland, New Zealand – 2/14/2021 – 18:00 -As a result of the Government announcement of a Level 3 lockdown in Auckland, initially, for 72 hours, the next scheduled race day on Wednesday has been postponed and the event village will not be open to the public during this time. America’s Cup Event Ltd will be working with the Authorities and relevant agencies over the next few days to work through the ongoing ramifications
