15 August 2017 - Grant Dalton says the Protocol is mostly done and that they will release it by the end of September. Dalton has previously said that the Match will be in early 2021. "The protocol is basically done. We are tweaking a few things, but they are only details around dates and things like that. We are still committed to a protocol late in September." Dalton has said that there will be more emphasis on nationality, both for yacht construction and for crew. Dalton also said that the structure of the 36th America's Cup regatta would be "more in line to when New Zealand last had it". It will be interesting to see whether there will be a "World Series."

What yachts will the Protocol specify? ETNZ needs to publish the Class Rule at the same time as the Protocol so potential challengers can make their decision about whether to enter.