Mike Hosking: Time to embrace the America's Cup

AC 75 concept for the boat for the America's Cup 2021. Photo / Supplied

It seems remarkable to me that in 2018 we are starting to angst already, again, about the America's Cup.

A deadline has passed, and there are others still to come, for entries into the next event.

We have New York, Luna Rossa and Great Britain.

This is reason, apparently, for consternation.

It is one of the more fascinating insights into our culture, into the way we view life and success, the way we choose to ignore fact. That we fail to learn from our mistakes, our prejudices and continue to find fault, worry, and concern.

And in doing that, spend time and energy that ultimately, more often than not, is wasted.

This next America's Cup will be a sensation.

This is not an event we know nothing of, it is not an event we have not experienced, this is not a new event, this is not a concept we are trying to sell to the world.

It's the planet's oldest and most glittering yachting prize and we are holders. That alone gives us kudos and an enormous head start when it comes to putting the next event together.

Grant Dalton, of whom I am an unabashed fan, sights some issues around the previous management of the cup, around the size and backing of the British entry in terms of worrying potential competitors, and whether they have any chance if they take the plunge and turn up.

These are challenges that come race time will have passed with the passage of time and the growing level of excitement.

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Ultimately for us, it's about a defence. If we win, really that's all that matters.

We saw this in the Rugby World Cup, yes hosting is one thing, but winning is what it's really all about.

Do we want a good number of entries? Of course.

Do we want a good number of quality entries? Yes.

But what has dogged our participation in the America's Cup for years now, is this seemingly permanent state of misery, this funk too many of us find or choose to be in.

For something that has delivered so much to this country not just in joy, pride and patriotism, but also in infrastructure and jobs, there would be few things we as a nation have dealt with that has been so fantastically successful.

And yet still we find ourselves, so many negative people about for a country generally proud of the boxing above our weight mentality.

What is it about this event that we can find so much fault with and so much of it based on little more than prejudice?

I know it's a rich mans' game, I know it's mega yachts, and billionaires.

It's elitist.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

But when each race rolls round, when each event is held, the ratings are through the roof.

The nation stops and the ticket tape parades are organised.

So why, why, why, yet again three years out, are we anything but excited and full of anticipation?

Team New Zealand are a world-class group that have proved they know what they're doing and know how to win.

We will once again be on the map, the millions will roll in, the place will be a party, and the jobs and economic benefit will flow.

It's been that way before it will be that way again.