An America's Cup syndicate could be based at Marsden Pt when the race for the Auld Mug takes place in Auckland in 2021, with Northport dusting off plans it had in 2012 to host then cup holder Oracle. In 2010 Oracle, which lost the cup to Team NZ in Bermuda last month, approached Northport asking to base itself there ahead of its 2013 cup defence in San Francisco. Oracle, owned by US billionaire Larry Ellison, wanted to base itself at Northport so its two America's Cup AC72 wingsail catamarans could go head-to-head in some spectacular matchracing, just off the Ruakaka coast. Mr Heath said Northport would not actively go out to pursue any syndicates, but was more than willing to help if a syndicate approached it. Northport had not been approached by any potential cup syndicates, but Northport would make an ideal base for a team, with its proximity to Auckland and its deep water port.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 05, 2017 18:56 UTC