Struggling US America’s Cup team hopes to borrow Team NZ boat

American syndicate Stars + Stripes is reportedly aiming to use Team New Zealand’s first boat so it can compete in the Prada Cup challenger series.

The struggling US team (its boat is only half built after buying a design package from Team NZ) is seeking permission from the America’s Cup independent arbitration panel to use a boat built in another country and take over Team NZ’s Te Aihe, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Under the arbitration process, all teams will be given the opportunity to make submissions so the outcome could depend upon whether they convince fellow challengers from Italy, Great Britain and USA that they should be involved, reports Stuff.

America’s Cup historian, Tom Ehman, says an exemption would infuriate the other challengers and give Stars + Stripes vital insight into where they stand compared to the other three teams – Luna Rossa, American Magic and Ineos Team UK – without having to race them.

“This has never happened before,” Ehman told Newshub. “It’s outrageous. They’ll be as mad as hell. Challengers betraying other challengers.”

However, Te Aihe is thought to be unlikely to be as competitive given the significant developments teams are making to their second generation AC75s.