Taking the Cup to NZ, but not Gisborne

OLD MUG ON TOUR: Gisborne is not on the itinerary for the nationwide tour of the America’s Cup pictured being held by helmsman Peter Burling. Napier is the nearest stop-off. NZME picture

TEAM New Zealand are not bringing the America’s Cup to Gisborne on their national tour but have not ruled out a future visit.

The America’s Cup is on a national tour with 19 venues on the itinerary and Gisborne is not one of them.

Gisborne was the only city to be excluded from a national tour of the Cricket World Cup trophy two years ago and the district is being excluded again.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron general manager Hayden Porter said they had to make “tough calls’’ in determining the itinerary.

“There is a definitely a desire to get there so we might have to look at a special trip to Gisborne in the future.”

Gisborne Yacht Club commodore Colin Shanks said club members were disappointed not to be included.

A GYC committee member contacted a Team New Zealand sponsor in early July (about 10 days after New Zealand won the America’s Cup) seeking to be involved in any national tour.

No reply was received and the club approached Team New Zealand directly after the tour itinerary was announced when it was realised Gisborne had been omitted.

Mr Porter said Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had given priority to destinations and yacht clubs that had requested a visit “directly after the win in Bermuda”.

“It was then a case of joining the dots down the country to get the most effective route to Bluff.

“We had not received a request from Gisborne, or the yacht club, prior to now.”

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron would “love to visit many more destinations”.

“Unfortunately the schedule has been set well in advance and is very tight on time at each stop.”

Mr Porter said it was too late to make adjustments to the tour, which started last Friday.

“We really wish this wasn’t the case, as in an ideal world we could get to everyone.

“Hopefully a few people can get down to Napier to see the cup on this trip.”

The cup will be in Napier tomorrow. The tour has already been to Edgecumbe and Rotorua, and is in Taupo today. Kaikoura is also on the national tour.

Team New Zealand has described the tour as doubling as a fundraising mission to help local sailing clubs strengthen their programmes, with particular focus on the quake-damaged areas of Edgecumbe and Kaikoura.

Team New Zealand and its sponsors were told by Gisborne Yacht Club that it had hosted Camper, Team New Zealand’s entry in the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race, and Sir Peter Blake on a number of occasions.

A yacht from the club had accepted an invitation to race in the Erika Cup in Gamagori, Japan, in 2001. The yacht won its class and Japanese organisers had entered the yacht as a Team New Zealand entry.

Immediate past commodore of Gisborne Yacht Club Glenn Watt said a visit would have been an opportunity to “give an injection of enthusiasm to existing and potential new members”.