The Auld Mug has only just been handed over in Bermuda and already thoughts are turning to the next America's Cup - with Team New Zealand promising to set fair rules.
Team New Zealand - helmed by Peter Burling - has won the regatta in Bermuda and will now get to set the terms for the next series. Photo: AFP
A little over two hours after crossing the victory line ahead of Oracle Team USA, Team New Zealand confirmed Italy's Luna Rossa as the official challenger of record for the next series.
The challenger of record works with the holder on the protocols and rules of the next event.
Look back at RNZ's live coverage of the winning race and reaction here.
Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton Photo: Photosport
Team New Zealand intends to hold the next America's Cup in Auckland and boss Grant Dalton said plans how the challenge would be run would "play out over the next few weeks".
"To me, it is a privilege to hold the America's Cup, it is not a right," he said at the news conference following the win. "We'll put in place rules and an organisation [in terms of Team New Zealand] that, if they're good enough, we'll hold on to it, and if we're not, we won't.
"We won't try to impose our will on it to make sure we win at all costs.
"We do have a plan, and it will play out over the next few weeks."
Dalton said he believed the sport was fragmented right now and he wanted to bring some stability.
"Rest assured, we'll do the right thing."
For the team's helmsmen, both are keen to be involved again next time.
Peter Burling, asked if he was in for a defence with Team New Zealand, suggested that was where he would be heading but qualified it by saying he hadn't thought about it yet.
Oracle's Jimmy Spithill said he loved the America's Cup and wanted to stay involved with Oracle - or with another team.
Team New Zealand received Luna Rossa's challenge immediately after its win in the last race, it said in a statement.
"As the first challenger, [Circolo della Vela Sicilia] will be the Challenger of Record for the 36th America's Cup and its representative team will be Luna Rossa Challenge. The 36th America's Cup will be open to further challengers from any organised Yacht Club of a foreign country under conditions to be announced in due course."
Team to bring trophy home next week
Minister of Sport Jonathan Coleman told Morning Report the achievement was "one of the greatest days in New Zealand sporting history".
"The whole country is going to bask in the glow of this."
There would be discussions with the winners about hosting the next America's Cup in New Zealand.
"It's Team New Zealand that controls this, not the government, so let's just see what happens."
Team New Zealand will return with the trophy to Auckland on Wednesday next week.
Dalton has confirmed the team will fly out of Bermuda on Sunday, via Dubai, the home of its main sponsor Emirates.
A victory parade is planned for Auckland and details are expected to be confirmed in the next few days. The Auckland Council has said it won't be down Queen Street, due to the high amount of construction going on.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, meanwhile, would be "delighted" if the next cup series was held in Auckland, but said that was completely up to Team New Zealand.
He said the council didn't have "buckets of money to throw at it" because there were major infrastructure projects going on.
"But aside from money, we'll cooperate in any way we can."
