America's Cup: Team NZ first to disclose America's Cup challenge

Emirates Team NZ during the 2013 America's Cup. Photo /Getty Images

"This is the official start of a long, hard journey."

With those words Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton confirmed the team will have another crack at wrestling the America's Cup away from Oracle Team USA.

The Kiwi syndicate, backed by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, became the first team to officially announce their challenge for the 35th America's Cup yesterday. Further entry announcements are expected to follow today.

It is believed Italian team Luna Rossa and Artemis submitted their entries before Emirates Team New Zealand, but have yet to officially announce their challenge. Others who have signalled they'll be throwing their hat in the ring are Ben Ainslie Racing (GBR) and a French challenge led by Franck Cammas, bringing the total of challengers for the 2017 event to five - two more than in San Francisco last year.

The new challenger of record (COR), responsible for negotiating the rules on behalf of the challengers, is also expected to be revealed by America's Cup authorities over the weekend after the original COR, Team Australia, withdrew from the event last month. The role goes to the first challenger to submit their entry, rumoured to be Luna Rossa.

The Italian team led the way in rallying their fellow intended challengers to issue a joint statement to reiterate their support for the event following Team Australia's withdrawal. Team NZ declined to take part in the united front, and were subsequently told by Sir Russell Coutts, the head of the America's Cup Events Authority, not to bother attending a teams meeting in London late last month.

At the meeting the parties resolved to work together to ensure the sustainability of the next America's and future events.

Although Team NZ were excluded from the meeting, in keeping with the new spirit of co-operativeness sweeping the Cup world, Dalton expressed the team's willingness to work constructively with the defender and fellow challengers.

"We look forward to working with the other teams to create a great event," he said.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has been involved with all but one New Zealand America's Cup campaign since 1987, winning at San Diego in 1995 and successfully defending at Auckland in 2000.

"New Zealand has a distinguished history in the America's Cup and we expect Emirates Team New Zealand will once again make New Zealand proud, just as it has done many times in the past," said outgoing Commodore Steve Burrett.

"We wish the team well and we look forward to contributing to the success of the 35th America's Cup."