Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

America's Cup: ETNZ Board Chair hits back at false allegations

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 14 Jun 2021 19:24 AEST 14 June 2021
Prime Minister Jacinda Adhern (cetre) with Sir Stephen Tindall (right) ETNZ Chairman, Emirates Team New Zealand launch the world's first AC75, Auckland, September 6, © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

Sir Stephen Tindall, the recently resigned Chairman of the Board of Emirates Team New Zealand has responded angrily to media claims that his retirement is "proof positive" that he does not agree with the direction the team is taking for its fourth Defence of the America's Cup.

The claims first surfaced in the international media over a week ago, and were repeated prominently in a leading and usually authoritative New Zealand business publication in a report on the defence plans for the America's Cup.

Late Monday afternoon Sir Stephen, who took over the Chairmanship when the restructured Team New Zealand Ltd Board was put in place in 2013, issued a written statement which was circulated by the team.

“I can categorically confirm that my retirement from as Director of Emirates Team New Zealand has absolutely nothing to do with the whereabouts of venue for the 37th America’s Cup. I am offended that [person's name redacted], without speaking to me would represent my retirement in such an uninformed manner to suit his own agenda and it would appear that of the [entity's name redacted].

"As a long term director of the team I completely understand the commercial realities of keeping the team operational and funded to be able to defend the America’s Cup and this is the number one priority for the team. The challenges of funding the team are even greater in a Covid 19 ravaged world."

"The decision on venue is related directly to the need to keep the team financially viable but of course it is mine, and everyone else at ETNZs preference to hold the 37th Americas Cup in New Zealand."

"But if the team aren’t able to defend the Cup due to lack of committed funding then the staging of the event becomes something of a moot point.”

Sir Stephen joined as a Director on October 2013, and resigned on June 3, 2021. He has been replaced by leading commercial lawyer and corporate adviser, Greg Horton who was a Board member prior to the 36th America's Cup Defence, when he switched across to be on the Board of America's Cup Event Ltd. Horton is a nominal shareholder of Team NZ Ltd. Grant Dalton has replaced Sir Stephen Tindall as the other nominal shareholder.

A much-publicised meeting will be held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Tuesday. It is one of several that have been held from time to time to update the RNZYS membership on the progress of the team as it prepared for AC36. The main topic of the upcoming meeting is expected to be the teams negotiations with the NZ Government and Auckland Council over the financial aspects of the 37th America's Cup and those two parties possible involvement.

In a separate issue some RNZYS members, unhappy with the perceived direction being taken by Team New Zealand, are attempting to garner enough support from the RNZYS members to call a Special Meeting of the club. A special meeting may be called by a group of 25 members, 18 days notice must be given of a special meeting, and it must have a quorum of 50 members.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Luna Rossa's Challenge accepted
According to local media the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted by the Kiwis. Leading America's Cup journalist, Fabio Pozzo, reports that the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted for the 2027 Cup in Naples. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: ETNZ's design boss on new AC75 Rule
Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on recycled AC75 hulls, electric power and other rule changes. Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on the use of recycled AC75 hulls, the switch to full electric power, and other changes. He claims there is plenty of performance gain left in the AC75 for the designer teams. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: Class Rule and Tech Regs out
The America's Cup Class Rule and Technical Regulations for the Naples Match have been published With the clock ticking down to the start of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in Naples in 2027, the AC75 Class Rules and Technical Regulations have been issued to all teams and published with a focus on cost containment. Posted on 11 Sep
America's Cup: Running silent and deep, again.
A look at the flotsam that has surfaced as the Cup teams again go into deep and silent negotiation. A look at the state of the Cup - given the three weeks of silence since the hasty final Protocol signing. Previously a long deep dive by the teams has indicated that a lot of negotiation is underway. Here's what we've seen floating on the surface. Posted on 10 Sep
From The Other Side - The State of the Sport
The editors of Sail-World New Zealand and Inside Great Lakes Sailing discuss the state of sailing. The Editors of Inside Great Lakes Sailing and Sail-World New Zealand got together last week to shoot the breeze in an unscripted video discussion, without any pre-arranged "talking points" about various aspects of the sport. Posted on 5 Sep
Youth America's Cup set to continue in Naples
The Youth America's Cup is a sign-post to the future direction of the America's Cup itself. Since its inaugural event in 2013, the Youth America's Cup, designed as a competition for sailors under the age of 25, has always been the most remarkable sign-post to the future direction of the America's Cup itself. Posted on 4 Sep
America's Cup: Carlo's insights 1983-2024
Leading Italian lensman Carlo Borlenghi has been shooting the America's Cups for 41 years Carlo Borlenghi is the go-to photographer for many of the world's top sailing events and has covered every America's Cup since 1983 when he was assigned to the Azzurra team for Italy's first challenge. Posted on 30 Aug
America's Cup: A seismic shift for sailing
For the first time in its 174-year history, female sailors will be mandated onboard AC75s This week's announcement from the America's Cup felt momentous. For the first time in its 174-year history, female sailors will be mandated onboard AC75s at the pinnacle of our sport. Posted on 15 Aug
America's Cup: The Brave, New Protocol
The just announced Protocol for the America's Cup has many innovations and a few fish hooks The just announced Protocol for the America's Cup has many innovations, and maybe a few unintended consequences around the mandatory re-use of 2024 vintage AC75 hulls. Updated with a look at how the new Cup structure could work. Posted on 12 Aug
America's Cup: A "ground breaking" partnership
An innovative Protocol for the 2027 America's Cup has been agreed between RNZYS and RYS An innovative 11th hour Protocol for the 2027 America's Cup has been agreed between the Challenger of Record and the Defender. It creates a commercial framework for the current and future Cups, eases nationality rules, and has a quota for female sailors. Posted on 12 Aug
Sydney International On-Water Boat Show 2025Switch One DesignMaritimo M600