With his victory over the 35 e America's Cup (2017), the New Zealanders win the right to decide the organisation of the next one (2021). After revealing the design of the new boat - AC75 - a 75-foot monohull with foils and no keel (a first!), they have just presented what the future race village will be like (still using computer-generated images...)
Located in Wynyard Basin, the village will be very large, with several marinas to accommodate the event boats (AC75, Class J, AC36 Série Jeune) as well as visitor boats. The village will be centralized on 700 m straddling the Viaduct basin (or Viaduct Harbour) and Wynyard Wharf.
A large village 700 m long
The team bases (opponents) will be grouped around the pool and will have public access so that visitors can discover both the daily activities of the teams and the AC75 launches (and returns to the base). Emirates Team New Zealand's base will be larger and a little set back from the others. It will also host an interactive innovation centre, also open to the public.
The teams will also have temporary bases which will become a public space on the seafront within the port, for all visitors to the village.
The Media and Broadcasting Centre will be installed in the "Viaduct Event Centre" in the centre of the village to broadcast images and content internationally. The space for welcoming the public will be very large, with giant screens and interactive animations to experience the race from the inside, as well as bars, restaurants and cafés spread throughout the village. A family (and child) area will be set up in Silo Park. Finally, a concert stage and grandstand will be in the heart of Wynyard to promote New Zealand musical culture and local artists.
Two marinas for large superyachts will be installed on the site, one on Wynyard Wharf and the other on site 18 for "the first time ever" maximizing economic benefits for government and the boating industry" explains ETNZ.
A decision that does not meet with unanimous approval
Even if the Neoz announce a "minimal extension of the port", this decision is not unanimously supported by the government. Indeed, the latter is still studying the possibility of an alternative "land" option by installing the teams at Wynyard Pt, the former site of Tank Farm to the West of Wynyard Basin. It is not convinced that Wynyard Basin is the right place to host the world's oldest trophy, particularly in view of the 2.5 hectare wharf extensions at Waitemata Harbour.
It will take $124 million to develop Wynyard Basin and an additional $18 million to relocate homeowners and tenants. The council also plans to spend $260 million on waterfront construction projects for the 36 e America's Cup (and the APEC conference), explains the nzherald site.
