Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

What a proud week for Tauranga, the Burling family, Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club and all the Kiwi fans who have waited so long for sailing payback.

Peter Burling winning the America's Cup at the helm of Emirates Team NZ must surely rate up there as the greatest sporting achievement of a Tauranga athlete.

On top of his world championship and Olympic titles, I can't think of another Bay sportsperson who has come even close to this sort of success… and he's only 26.

The cohesion between ‘Pistol Pete' and ‘Cool Hand Tuke' is astonishing. The pair clearly have a remarkable connection that takes them to the top of the game in whichever class of yacht they step aboard.

Hometown hosting

If only the America's Cup rules stipulated that the defence should be in the skipper's hometown waters.

I know there's so many physical reasons why this would be incredibly difficult – including convincing Auckland that it doesn't, by right, automatically get to host it.

But Peter Burling and his sailing peers such as at the Saunders, Meech and other local yachting families have shown that all New Zealand is a talented sailing nation. Auckland is far from the sole centre of achievement.

Before you all diss the idea, assuming this columnist is three sheets to the wind and write this off as another Rogers rampant rabbiting, let me point out that many of our MPs are also looking broadly at the host city options, including our local MP Todd Muller.
He posted on social media this week: “Proudly wearing my Tauranga Boys' College tie in Parliament today to celebrate Emirates Team New Zealand's win this morning with my fellow old boy Peter Burling at the helm. Before we all concede that the next Cup will be held in Auckland – how about we consider giving Peter a real home advantage and host here in the Bay?”

Simon Bridges is one of the ministers on the job investigating plans for the cup defence in probably four years' time and he'll be looking at all angles. Check out his comments later in this edition on page 3.

Memo to Auckland: it's not a done deal!

Yes, there are hurdles to Tauranga hosting a marine event of this magnitude.
But so has every other possible host city, including Awkland.

There's the question of infrastructure – somewhere to house seven or eight syndicates. Although Auckland has the same problem since the viaduct area has given way to commercial development.

Tauranga has a heap of spare land around the yet-to-be developed marine precinct. Maybe that could be borrowed for a temporary syndicate base… plus a bit of wharf-side space if the Port of Tauranga was feeling magnanimous. Mark Cairns is a good bloke, I'm sure the POT would get behind the concept.

It would be a great reason for the government to fast-track some infrastructure and roading plans that are already in the pipeline, including the long-awaited Northern arterial and bypasses of Bethlehem and Katikati.


Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match Racing Day 2. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Oracle Team USA races 3 & 4.

Shallow thinking

The shallow harbour might be a challenge to foiling action, but it could also be good incentive for the racers to stay on their foils.

The spectre of shallows might help persuade Jimmy Spithill to stay within the boundaries, since he clearly had issues crossing them in Bermuda. There would be nothing more entertaining than seeing Oracle hitting the Otumoetai sandbank at 41 knots.

If Nathan Outeridge falls out again, he'll be able to walk to the beach. I'll be ready with a dry towel and a cold Steinie at Kulim Park.

Very accommodating

Why should the racing necessarily be in the harbour? Yachts are meant to sail in the ocean and a few laps off the Mount would be spectacular, with grandstand viewing from main beach, Mauao, Mount Drury and Moturiki. A two-metre swell at A Beacon should sort the men from the boys.

Visitor accommodation is a sticky one.

The hotels here are great. Both of them. Actually there might be three… but we've got four years to build stuff. I'm sure we could rely on all the grannies on Pillans Point to open up their spare rooms for B&Bs.

Not a done deal

The main thing really is to send a message to chauvinist, presumptive Auckland that this isn't, by default, going to be Auckland's Cup. As Pete Mouthcommentary historically announced, it's New Zealand's Cup, and the point needs to be made that Auckland shouldn't automatically assume it will be staged there. Even if the ETNZ skipper's hometown isn't suitable, then other venues should be considered.

What about Lake Taupo? Plenty of depth, great scenery, good breezes and a town already battle-hardened for tourists.

If it was good enough to host an America's Cup at Lake Geneva, then Taupo certainly fits the bill.

Whitianga. A great big bay and a historic connection to the Cup, being the first NZ club to challenge for it, back in the era of Michael Fay and the Mercury Bay Boat Club. Divert a few fast ferries around the Coromandel to handle the influx.

Fantastic viewing from the surrounding high points such as Centennial Drive, Shakespeare Cliff and Lonely Bay.

Bay of Islands. Beautiful. Also plenty of tourist infrastructure. Great sailing waters.
Wellington. Windy as. A big harbour. Plenty of infrastructure. No JAFAs.

If it can cope with 40,000 amped-up Lions fans, it could surely cope with an America's Cup crowd.

Feel the buzz

Let's keep our minds open to the possibilities. Wherever it ends up, the America's Cup defence will be epic and it's important that the whole of New Zealand feels the buzz and the connection. After all, the nation as a whole has been backing this event, not just in the millions of cash poured in over the decades, but in emotions and energy and socks. Payback has been long awaited – painful at times but all the sweeter for that agony.
Huge congratulations to the Burlings, the team, their supporters and all the fans and mates back here in Tauranga.

It's a monumental achievement and the whole region is buoyed and excited by this magnificent win.

brian@thesun.co.nz