Cup equation tricky, says Burling

Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling has spoken of his syndicate’s pride in representing the country and the ‘‘tricky’’ equation of making the next defence commercially viable.

Team New Zealand have turned down the government and Auckland’s $99 million offer for a repeat defence in the city, and the champion outfit will now weigh up the overseas hosting alternatives.

Burling and his regular sailing partner Blair Tuke are in the thick of their final preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, but the delicate Cup situation hasn’t been lost on them.

‘‘Everyone in the team is really proud to be from New Zealand, we really loved the support we got through the last America’s Cup,’’ Burling told Stuff at an Olympic media opportunity in Auckland yesterday.

‘‘You feel for everyone involved there – they are in a really tricky situation to try to do the best job they can with what’s happening.’’

The skeleton Team New Zealand management led by Grant Dalton have been burying themselves into moving the event forward since March’s win over Italian challenger Luna Rossa, with the global pandemic impacting heavily on long-term sponsorships.

‘‘Dalts and the team with the event are doing the best job they can with the circumstances.

‘‘Blair and myself have had to focus on our Olympic campaign the last little bit,’’ added Burling, who fronted the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron members at Tuesday night’s meeting on the eve of the announcement confirming the Auckland offer had been rejected.

Burling and Tuke have had a hectic schedule since winning the Auld Mug for a second time. They have been leading New Zealand’s entry in the SailGP global league, debuting their Live Ocean Racing catamaran in Bermuda over Anzac weekend.