America's Cup 2021: Chris Rattue - Why spend millions on sailing while Warriors get the crumbs?

Opinion: We fork out millions for sailing. Meanwhile, the Warriors are treated like bums. Photos / Photosport

OPINION:

So this is what we forked out millions and millions for.

The America's Cup is a giant experiment which is falling on its face if you consider where the yachts keep ending up.

The Brits and their famous sailors could barely sail in December, the home team capsized during practice, and the famous New York Yacht Club's entry almost sunk at the weekend.

Now there will be yachts out on their own this weekend, due to American Magic's calamity. Fantastic.

If the rest of the world is actually watching, how will this sell more cheese?

This Auld Mug is our mug's game. The great fleet never arrived. But we were coerced into falling for the old lines hook line and sinker, as per usual.

Foiling is the future of yachting, I'm convinced of that. It can be absolutely thrilling to watch. It will rule one day.

But the 36th America's Cup in Auckland is an expensive stepping stone in the development of foiling yachting, and we're paying for that which means others are missing out.

American Magic's capsize against Luna Rossa. Photo / Michael Craig

We've been taken for a 50 knot ride.

Meanwhile over at Penrose the Warriors – who are treated like dirt by this city – have been left to rot in a stadium which was already substandard when the club kicked off 26 years ago.

The Warriors are treated like bums. The best the city planners can do is dream up ridiculous stadium swap schemes in which they try to dump the country's only proper professional sports club in the nearest available receptacle.

The Warriors (and a fair few other highly followed sports including motor racing and football) have few friends in high places, and none willing to stand up for them. And when push comes to shove, they have no international branding BS to fall back on.

Branding is important. But it shouldn't be the overriding factor it has become when the rich and influential folk try to raid the public coffers, as rugby and yachting love to do.

I'd argue it's also time to completely reassess the money we pour into seeking Olympic success, often in sports which have an infinitesimal following most of the time.

I'm not against rugby and yachting. Not at all. Love/like them both, in certain doses.

Team New Zealand practice. Photo / Michael Craig

But rugby league and the Warriors – New Zealand's only true, high potential professional sports club - get shafted. Alleged international profile should not completely dominate where our sports money goes.

The politicians should govern for all, provide for all.

Yet Auckland is an elitist playground. We hand over millions to yachting when they feel like it, and cling to an outdated rugby temple so the vainglorious All Blacks can play one test a year at their favourite haunt.

A city run by people with almost no apparent inside sporting knowledge doesn't even try to discover what this city is really all about, letting money and fame do all the talking.

Rugby and yachting know the score, selling themselves as a Kiwi crusade, understanding that the fragile national psyche can't resist another chance to show the world how amazing we are.

But it's all a show.

We're not amazing at all, not when it comes to the fair and equal distribution of our resources. We only kid ourselves that we are an egalitarian utopia.

We operate in a class system, just like almost everywhere else in the western world.

It's all about propping up the status quo, even with boats which keep falling over.

Heading into the Cup racing?

• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus to watch the Cup.

• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride.

• Don't forget to scan QR codes with the NZ COVID Tracer app when on public transport and entering the America's Cup Village.

• For more ways to enjoy race day, visit at.govt.nz/americascup.