San Francisco Losing Ground in Race to Host 2017 America’s Cup

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The next America’s Cup could be sailed off a Hawaiian beach, on San Diego Bay or in some other port instead of returning to a San Francisco Bay course bordered by the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.

Russell Coutts, the CEO of America’s Cup champion Oracle Team USA, told The Associated Press Jan. 25 that sailing officials are talking with other venues about hosting the 35th America’s Cup in August 2017 because San Francisco officials haven’t offered the same terms as they did for last summer’s regatta, which ended with the American syndicate staging one of the greatest comebacks in sports.

Coutts, a five-time America’s Cup winner, said he’s not prepared to rule out San Francisco as the next host. “They might have a change of heart. I don’t think they will but they might,” Coutts said by phone from France. He was in Europe talking to potential sponsors.

Hawaii’s chances of hosting the America’s Cup, a warm-up regatta or perhaps an early round of challenger eliminations appear to be on the rise because of the relationship between Larry Ellison, the software billionaire who owns Oracle Team USA, and state Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Coutts said he hasn’t had discussions with Abercrombie. When asked if Ellison had spoken with the governor about the America’s Cup, Coutts said: “Yes, I expect that Larry has had a discussion.”

Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp., bought 98 percent of Lanai in 2012 and has put millions of dollars into renovating two resorts there. He has plans for further development on what’s also known as Pineapple Island.

Asked to comment on Ellison’s level of dissatisfaction with San Francisco, Coutts said the billionaire hasn’t been involved with talks.

“It’s safe to say I’m not happy,” Coutts said. “It was a fantastic event in San Francisco. I don’t think anyone disputes that. The TV images were great. But we could go to another venue and have great racing. As we’ve gone into the process, it’s pretty evident there are some really strong venues. They might end up being better than San Francisco. Not by any means am I saying this is a bad result. This actually could turn out to be a good thing for the America’s Cup.”

While last summer’s regatta gave the staid old America’s Cup a remarkable adrenaline rush, it generated less economic impact in the Bay Area than projected and cost city taxpayers more than $5 million.

Coutts declined to be specific about why he finds San Francisco’s offer unacceptable.

Coutts stressed that no decisions have been made on a venue. He said Oracle Team USA representatives still need to visit prospective venues — including Hawaii — to check out potential racing sites.

After Oracle Team USA retained the America’s Cup in September with its eighth straight win against Emirates Team New Zealand, Ellison joked that the next cup could be sailed around Lanai.

If Hawaii is chosen, a more likely spot would be off Oahu or Maui.

The 2013 America’s Cup was contested in 72-foot catamarans, with a crew of 11, which were expensive and hard to control. Coutts wants the next America’s Cup to be sailed in 60-foot catamarans crewed by eight sailors, which would help reduce costs. –Bernie Wilson