Who else might host the Cup?

British lips are licking at the possibility of hosting the 37th America’s Cup after Team New Zealand confirmed they wouldn’t accept a $99 million offer of government and regional support to defend the Auld Mug in Auckland.

Both mainstream media and yachtingspecific sites in the UK reported the chances of the Cup being staged in British waters came a step closer with this development.

It’s hard to argue against the Solent now being the favourite.

The decision to enlist the London-based Origin Sports Group to assess international options has apparently been fruitful and there are worthy alternatives. With a September 17 deadline to announce the next venue, here’s a look at some of the reported hosting options.

COWES:

History on its side as the site for the first America’s Cup in 1851. A superb sailing venue. Connections to new challenger of record, Sir Ben Ainslie’s Team UK and the Royal Yacht Squadron, along with their generous benefactor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, heighten their claims. The European destination makes it sponsorfriendly for any syndicates. Must be favourite.

DUBAI:

Home of Emirates airline, Team New Zealand’s title sponsor in the Dalton era. The industry’s Covid struggles have placed a question mark over Emirates’ ongoing commitment to the Cup, but their name remains on current Team New Zealand sponsorship and this would be logical progression.

VALENCIA:

Hosted the glory edition of the modern Cup in 2007 when 11 challengers battled for the right to take on Swiss defender Alinghi who had to opt for a neutral venue. Hosted again in 2010. Infrastructure would need a makeover, but the basics are there, along with good sailing conditions. Like, the UK, would be tempting for new teams.

SINGAPORE:

An international hub of business and travel with its ever-present ocean outlook and productive maritime scene. The America’s Cup has begged more Asian involvement and this venue would encourage involvement.

CORK:

A left-field addition, though the Royal Cork Yacht Club is a claimant to the title of the world’s oldest yacht club, founded in 1720. There’s Cup history in Ireland too – their last challenger was Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock V, representing the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, that was beaten 4-0 by Harold Vanderbilt’s American defender Enterprise in 1930.

JEDDAH:

Human rights movements would be abhorred at the prospect, but the wealthy Arab nation is aggressive in the elite international sporting market. They host Formula One and are the target for Anthony Joshua’s biggest world heavyweight boxing fights. Money isn’t an option.

OMAN:

Located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, it’s an ambitious sailing nation having a had a competitive catamaran team. Again, money is in abundance.

DOHA:

The capital of Qatar, another nation with a long stretch of the Persian Gulf to play with. But could Team New Zealand really plant an event in the major airline opposition of Emirates?