Gladwell's Line- The America's Cup is now Bermuda's Cup?

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz on 24 Nov 2014 Sail-World New Zealand editorial from the newsletter of November 23, 2014 on the state of the America's Cup:


The America's Cup roared into life on Friday with the publication of a story out of San Diego, saying that the Californian venue had missed selection as the venue for the next America's Cup.

And that being the case, then the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda seems to have got the nod.

Well connected America's Cup and sporting journalist Bernie Wilson broke the story in Associated Press, and it was picked up elsewhere.

From the inquiries made by Sail-World, it would seem that the story is accurate, however it will not be confirmed until a media conference, also announced on Friday, for December 2, in Manhattan.

Until then, it is unlikely that the reasons for the selection of Bermuda will not be known.

If correct the selection of Bermuda is both an embarrassment for USA and a kick in the guts, for the country of the Cup Holder. Embarrassment because it means that in the opinion of the home team, there is no venue at which they are willing to stage a home game.

Imagine the outcry here, if Team New Zealand won the America's Cup and then decided after 15 months that they would hold the Defence in Australia.

Kick in the guts, because no US sailing city or port will receive the benefit of staging an America's Cup - both in what it brings to an area in terms of publicity, but also inspires the local sailors and junior sailors in particular.

It's an appalling situation when the country that has held the America's Cup the longest, decides that having won it back and conducted a successful Defence in the waters of the winning club, that commercial needs prevail and the event should be sailed in an offshore tax-haven.

Of course, Bermuda is keen to stage the regatta, From reports out of Bermuda, it would seem the British Overseas Territory was being extremely co-operative in its efforts to stage the America's Cup. While that may have been refreshing for the America's Cup Events Authority negotiators, it is hard to understand how this benefits the America's Cup.

It is also hard to understand how ACEA claim to want to grow the event, which means getting more Challengers, and then refuse to work cooperatively with them on a venue selection, or sail it in their club's GGYC's home waters. Clearly if you have five Challengers all wanting to sail on the Defender's home, then that's where you would go wouldn't you?

It beggars belief as to quite how the GGYC Board can vote to have their trophy defended in another country, and claim that is in the best interests of the America's Cup (of which they are the current Trustee), GGYC and USA. But it will happen.

All will be revealed on December 2, in Manhattan.

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