Boat builders eagerly await new America's Cup rules

New Zealand's boat builders are eagerly awaiting the new rules around what they will be able to construct for the next America's Cup. Photo / File

New Zealand's boat builders are eager to hear the new rules regarding what they will be able to build for the next America's Cup.

Team New Zealand earlier this week indicated it would strengthen the nationality rules for the 2021 cup, confirming the protocol would contain a "constructed in country" rule as well as a nationality requirement for the competing crews.

The constructed in country rule - one of the underlying principles of the event for many years - was relaxed significantly over the past two editions. This year's event in Bermuda only required a small portion of the bows be constructed in the country of origin.

For example, all of Oracle Team USA's boats and components for the past two editions were built at Core Composites in Warkworth.

NZ Marine Industry Association's executive director Peter Busfield told Newstalk ZB that the industry was eagerly awaiting details of the protocols, which were expected to be announced in September.

It could mean less work for the country's boat builders when it came to building challengers' vessels, however, this would be outweighed by the overall benefits of hosting the cup.

"The main benefit is the profile on New Zealand and having the visitors and their super yachts, having their rigid-hulled inflatables being built in New Zealand and all the support boats and the ongoing work that profile will provide for the industry," he said.

"The New Zealand marine industry would ideally like Emirates Team New Zealand to successfully defend the next America's Cup so we can have the continuity of this business staying in New Zealand."

He hoped there would be a "balance" in the protocols regarding how much had to be built in the country of origin.

"It will have an impact for some companies. There are 30 different [New Zealand] boat building companies that were building Emirates team New Zealand and Oracle and SoftBank Japan in the most recent cup. So I'm sure those companies will be looking forward to seeing what components they can build in the next America's Cup," Busfield said.

"But in the overall scheme of things we've got 1000 companies in New Zealand in the marine industry and we'll take whatever decision comes our way and we'll certainly make the most of it."