Members watch the America`s Cup match race between Team New Zealand and Oracle at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, in 2017. Photo: photosport
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron insists it wanted the America's Cup to be hosted at home and is confident New Zealand fans will be engaged with the event despite it being offshore.
Holders Team New Zealand announced Naples will host the 2027 America's Cup, with the regatta to be staged in Italy for the first time.
After defending the Auld Mug in the waters off Barcelona last October, the RNZYS said it pushed to return the event to Auckland.
However, it was announced in March they would no longer seek to host the next edition due to a lack of economic support from the government.
Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia during the 37th America's Cup Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Squadron Commodore David Blakey told Morning Report Naples became the best option once Auckland was off the cards.
"We actually worked very hard to try and make the event happen in Auckland. As we know, we weren't able to pull that together so then we had to look offshore," Blakey said.
"Naples was one of the candidates to put their hand up and were very keen right from the outset to get involved if they could.
"They put in a strong bid and they've been successful.
"They have the money. They have the strong desire and the passion to have it and they have a large number of supporters there who are ready to host us."
Photo: Emirates Team New Zealand
Blakey was questioned over whether the average New Zealander was become less engaged in the America's Cup because it was no longer being sailed on their doorstep.
He said their first choice was to sail the event in Auckland but said there was positives to taking the racing overseas.
"The silver lining here is that it actually provides a fantastic platform for New Zealand to showcase itself in one of the largest markets and I'd love to see the country take advantage again," he said.
"We had hundreds of members come with us to Barcelona and there were thousands of Kiwi supporters lining the waterfront in Barcelona.
"The team does a fantastic job sailing, they showcase and present on behalf of New Zealand really well."
Italians are expected to support the event, with the country's long-standing syndicate Luna Rossa again forecast to be among the strongest challengers.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew celebrate during America's Cup challenger series off Barcelona, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Blakey won't rule out Auckland hosting the next regatta if Team NZ are successful in Naples, saying "no doubt we'll have the opportunity to explore that again and maybe next time the timing's right for New Zealand to have it back here".
Meanwhile, he said the "stunning" race headquarters on the Gulf of Naples waterfront would need to undergo infrastructure development, with work to begin soon.
"They've got a little bit of work to do around their waterfront, to do some redevelopment, to set up a facility where the teams can base themselves," he said.
"They'll have that ready to go by early next year.
"The teams can start practising by the next European summer, ready for the event in the summer of 2027."
He said they were keen to get the announcement underway to they can get on with building infrastructure.
Naples waterfront Photo: photosport
"The bay actually curves around so spectators will be able to line up along the waterfront, similar to what we were able to do in Barcelona, and watch from the land," he said.
"There'll be a number of vantage points so it should be a spectacular setting for such an event."
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