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by . on 10 Sep 2014 Welcome to Sail-World.com’s New Zealand e-magazine for September 10, 2014

The America's Cup again dominates the news. Not for what it is doing, but for what it is not.

The Media Conference held in London was an external disaster - with the video feed not running for 30 of the 45 minutes. The world audience was left in front of blank screens. Not a tweet of explanation either.

But that was a blessing in disguise as it masked was being said, or not being said.

Afterwards, it was hard to decide which was the worst effort - Team New Zealand's infamous Black Friday media conference - where some of the Kiwi media turned feral over funding issues. Or, was it the effort in London? Popular vote was that the London took the prize - on the basis that the damage was largely contained to New Zealand's shores.

One of the basic of holding a media conference, is that there is something to announce.

There was nothing to announce in London.

Not that it should have been that way. The conference should have been held after the meeting of the Teams, which was held that afternoon. Then the skippers could have discussed the outcomes and what was ahead.

They could have announced that Luna Rossa was the new Challenger of Record. The teams were told by letter a couple of weeks ago. They could have announced that there was a Challenger Committee being formed, similar to that which operated in 1992 and 1995, and the thinking behind that move - that is a positive one for a number of good reasons.

Instead, the point came out in response to a question in the last minutes of the Media Conference.

But after 12 months of indecision, what we saw in London last night should have come as no surprise.

The organisation for the next America's Cup can be summed up in one word - inept.

Still we have no update on the venue, no dates, no venues announced for the America's Cup World Series and no word on whether the Qualification Series will, in fact, be held.

In London, it was revealed that maybe there is some second thoughts on the one thing that is positive - the development of the AC62.

The newly appointed Commercial Commissioner, Dr Harvey Schiller, spent his time telling the audience what they already knew, or should have. He noted that the America's Cup used to be a Tier 1 event and should be in the future.

While it is debatable if the AC, by its very nature was ever a Tier 1 event, the media conference underlined the fact that the event has a long way to go to get into that stellar peer group.

For sure, none of the Tier 1 sports would have even dreamed of putting on a show that the like of which happened in London.

Even more incredible is the fact that the 34th America's Cup finished with a very strong platform in San Francisco. They had created a sport that ticked so many boxes. Looked very good on television. The general media loved it. It was spectacular and looked that way. It had elements of crash and burn. And it was Green. Who would have thought it possible to have yachts sailing at the speed of powerboats using wind power and a completely renewable energy resource?

Ultimately the mess must be sheeted home to the Golden Gate Yacht Club.

Under the Deed of Gift for the America's Cup, GGYC is the Cup Trustee. They are the one held responsible by the Deed. Not America's Cup Events Authority, their commercial tentacle. Not Russell Coutts the head of ACEA. When things are going well, it is fine to have a hands-off approach. But that is not the case at present.

There are only five Challengers. There is no venue, no dates and all the shortcomings that have been recited ad nauseam. How many other Tier 1 events would allow one Event to finish and then not have the basic details in place immediately after that event has be concluded?

Most, if not all have venue preselected. Like the Olympics, Rugby World Cup, Football World Cup, etc.

The America's Cup can't do that by its very nature, and because of the Deed of Gift. But the event can and should be sailed in the home waters of the winner - as the Deed clearly contemplates by practical application of the donor's intentions.

The one redeeming feature of the media conference was the sailing talent that was assembled on stage, and the knowledge of the many, many more talented people standing behind them in the teams.

Sure there should be more, but let's be grateful for what we have. It is an extremely talented group - Defender included of course.

They should be allowed to shine.

One of the many cracks at the America's Cup, is that it is three years of meetings followed by a yacht race. In this AC cycle, there seems to be no certainty of the latter.

Fortunately, the America's Cup is not typical of the sport. Everyone else wants to go sailing and wants to race - and doesn't take a year to make up their minds.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] You can read about some of these people and events below, in the latest edition of Sail-World.com's e-magazine.

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Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

sailworldnzl@gmail.com

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