In its statement the British reaffirmed their commitment to 'finding a resolution and mutual consent on behalf of all Challengers for the 38th America’s Cup' The team also promised to 'respond imminently with a protocol and partnership framework to the Defender which we hope will allow for a successful event for all stakeholders in 2027 and beyond'.
The full Athena Racing statement reads as follows:
The ongoing lack of transparency surrounding the recent announcement of the Host City for the America’s Cup in 2027 and the impact this is having on negotiating a fair sporting protocol are yet to be addressed by the Defender, Team New Zealand, who without consultation with Athena Racing, the Challenger of Record, yesterday announced in Naples: “In two years from now the Louis Vuitton Cup will have been sailed in the Gulf of Naples.".
Athena Racing has been negotiating in good faith for the past seven months and still has serious concerns regarding several key clauses proposed within the protocol, which is far from being ‘final’ as the Defender suggests.
