Among the many changes made for the next edition of the America’s Cup, the make-up of crews is one that will likely turn heads.
For the last two editions of the cup, a strict 100% nationality rule was implemented. That meant every sailor competing on-board in a crew had to be citizens or have spent two of the previous three years in the country they represented.
But as the number of sailors on board has changed for the 2027 regatta in Naples, Italy, so too have those requirements.
Now, of the five sailors racing for a team, two can be non-nationals. Every team must have a female sailor on board, who has to be from the country the team represents.
While the draft protocol released by Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) in May indicated non-nationals could only be signed if they hadn’t sailed for another team in Barcelona, that restriction did not appear in the confirmed document signed on Tuesday.
ETNZ chief executive Grant Dalton said the nationality rule was a point of contention in building the protocol, but compromises had to be made.
“I have to say I’m still probably not even that convinced or totally convinced, but you’ve got to make compromises where you’ve got to make compromises and that was one of them,” Dalton said.
The non-nationals rule means the likes of Peter Burling and Josh Junior, who have signed with Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, could be on board for the challenger come racing.
He said former ETNZ helmsman Burling was not a factor in his thinking around that rule, however.
“No, because I don’t know whether Pete will be sailing. I don’t know because I know Luna Rossa has got these two young hotshots. They’ve got the Tuke and Burling of 2017, and they’re good, those young guys. I think Luna Rossa will bring those guys forward.
“Pete is pretty committed to SailGP, which was certainly one of the issues and reasons he’s not with us here now.
“I have no idea what their plans are. But what I do know is Team New Zealand is a complete team and has been a complete team. What do they say? A team of champions, not a champion team.”
ETNZ have confirmed one non-national at this point, with British sailor Chris Draper announced for their core group in May.
A change in nationality rules and a female sailor being on board weren’t the only changes to the make-up of teams on the water. The drop in crew members from eight to five comes at the expense of power units, with cyclors to be replaced by batteries.
A sixth person will be on board, with a spot reserved for guests to witness the action first-hand.
This isn’t the first time the America’s Cup has featured such a position, with the 18th man a feature of the 2007 cup. The spot for the 2027 regatta is expected to feature VIPs, sponsors, media, influencers and dignitaries.
It’s a move made to maximise commercial, media and fan engagement, with the aim of reaching out to a younger demographic in the next cycle.
These were among a host of changes ushered in by the new protocol, alongside the introduction of the America’s Cup Partnership, which will give teams equal authority in their responsibility for organising and managing the event’s on- and off-water format. In addition, the partnership will regulate the development, protection and commercialisation of media and commercial rights. There will also be more sailing in the cycle, and a cost cap of $147 million.
“This will be judged in 20 years,” Dalton said of the new protocol.
“This is not something that will just be here today and gone tomorrow. This is a change and the ultimate test will be what does the America’s Cup look like in 20 years’ time? Has it grown to be this massive huge thing on a time scale of every two years, or what?
“One thing is for sure: unless we had done something, it wouldn’t have had its opportunity to grow.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.