Team INEOS UK have resorted to diplomatic negotiations to bring their staff into New Zealand to prepare for next year's America's Cup challenge off Auckland.
But chief executive Grant Simmer is frustrated over the lack of communication from Team New Zealand, who keep redirecting any enquiries to the NZ Government.
Simmer, who guided Australia II during their 1983 America's Cup challenge, hopes to have some staff arrive in the country next week, with their first boat to arrive within three months.
"We are trying to put pressure on the NZ Government through the UK ambassador, the Americans are trying to do that through their ambassador and it seems a bit ridiculous that something like this is getting escalated to that level," he has told NZME.
"Being stonewalled by the Government or by Team NZ on this issue just doesn't really make a lot of sense.
"[Team New Zealand] are just saying 'it's not really in our control, it's the New Zealand Government', but at one point, they are going to have to say to the NZ Government 'come on guys, you have got to support our event'.
"I certainly hope they are going to say that."
Simmer isn't the only one annoyed, with New York Yacht Club's American Magic engaging in similar discussions with US officials.
Last week, the NZ Government admitted the COVID-19 crisis would have some impact on the America's Cup, but was determined to see it go ahead on schedule.
As it stands, New Zealand citizens and residents may return home, but will be subject to restrictions upon entry. No other foreign traveller can enter New Zealand, unless they're an essential worker or they "have skills or expertise that cannot be filled within New Zealand", says Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford.
American Magic chief executive Terry Hutchinson has told Newshub that the team are happy to pay for quarantine cost, if it means staff can arrive with the boat in the next month.
So far, 154 people have been granted exemptions into the country, including American movie producer Jon Landau, who is here to make the Avatar movie sequels, which will restart a $3.3 billion film industry that provides 74,000 jobs.
Hearing people like Landau are allowed into New Zealand makes Simmer even more frustrated.
"Clearly, the New Zealand Government wants the foreign income and the film industry is going to spend a lot of money, but we're going to spend a hell of a lot of money in New Zealand too.
"The New Zealand Government has said it won't delay the event - they want to hold it on time - so why the hell wouldn't they allow competitors to get set up and start operating in New Zealand, you know, subject to the quarantine?" Simmer asks.
"We are submitting all our paperwork to New Zealand immigration and clearly we're all going to have to quarantine when we arrive. We just need some directive from the Government when they are going to process our visas and when they are going to open the borders, subject to quarantine, for our team to arrive."
As it stands, the America's Cup World Series is scheduled for December in Auckland - the only competitive regatta before the Challenger Selection Series in early 2021.
The 2021 America's Cup is scheduled to start on March 6.
