Bermuda will be ready to bid to host the next America’s Cup, according to the ACBDA.

Mike Winfield, ACBDA CEO, said: “The ACBDA, under direction of the Bermuda Government, will be ready to submit a bid should OTUSA be successful and will stand ready to meet with the New Zealand team should they be successful.

“We also remain in discussion with other teams as to whether they will retain their bases in Bermuda post AC35.

“The reality is that no decision has been made as to the location of AC36. Further, our discussions with OTUSA and the ACEA confirm that they would welcome a bid from Bermuda.

“We believe the winner of AC35 will be influenced by just how well the remainder of this event is delivered, as well as the bid we deliver. Our collective focus will continue to be on delivering a remarkable AC35 and we will not be distracted by fruitless speculation. Our collective efforts must be about delivering AC35 with excellence, we must demonstrate just how hospitable we are, with each and every America’s Cup interaction we have, we are truly on the global stage.”

The comments came in the wake of an article in yesterday’s edition of The Royal Gazette on the likelihood of the island hosting the 36th America’s Cup.

Mr Winfield criticised the story’s description of Bermuda as an “unlikely choice” for the next event, calling it “inaccurate and misleading”.

“Bermuda negotiated various rights for future events in the Host Venue contract and these apply to both a World Series Event post AC 35 as well AC 36 itself,” he said. “There are, however, no guarantees.

“Five of the six competing teams have agreed a protocol which, in part, agrees that the 36th America’s Cup will be held in 2019 and that there will be a number of World Series Events between the end of AC35 and the commencement of AC36. The right to choose the location of AC36 rests with the winner of AC35 and this is, obviously, yet to be determined.

“New Zealand is the only team not to have signed this protocol but we believe they will make their intentions clear very soon after the conclusion of AC35 if they are victorious.”

In a statement today, shadow tourism minister Jamahl Simmons said: “The PLP is disappointed to learn that the America’s Cup is unlikely to return to Bermuda. Indeed, it’s been good for many Bermudians, but we are concerned that this government is focused far more on a short-term boost than a long-term investment.”

One Bermuda Alliance chairwoman Lynne Woolridge responded: “For the last two years the Opposition have gone out of their way to misinform the public and malign the investment Bermuda is making in the America’s Cup. For the Opposition to now say they are disappointed that the event may not return to Bermuda is the height of hypocrisy and nothing more than desperate political pandering to try and win votes from wherever they can.”