Editorial- The price of petulance

by nzeditor@sail-world.com on 14 Nov 2007 Welcome to the midweek edition of Sail-World.Com's NZ newsletter

The setting of a deadline, this morning, by Societe Nautique de Geneve on the withdrawal of the lawsuit by Golden Gate Yacht Club is an unnecessary piece of brinkmanship.

Justice Herman Cahn is soon expected to make a ruling in the action between Golden Gate YC and Societe Nautique de Geneve over the legitimacy of the Challenger of Record chosen by SNG for the 33rd America’s Cup. Against this back drop it is hard to understand why SNG have taken the action they have this morning (NZT).

GGYC’s response was predictable, and the Defender has now set the scene for the America’s Cup Match to be postponed to 2011.

Such an announcement would make life very difficult for many of the teams already entered – as survival for two years with no additional sponsorship income is extremely difficult, if not terminal.

Even if GGYC did withdraw their suit, there is no requirement on them to enter – and similarly for the other teams that are sitting outside the 2009 Challenger ranks – Mascalzone Latino and Victory Challenge. They may well take the advice oft-proffered by Alinghi spokespeople 'if you don’t like the rules of this game- go and play another'.

The Competition Regulations announced last week were based on a premise of ten or so teams including the Defender – well short of the current entry. And no further teams appear to rocking up to Port America’s Cup, bank draft and entry form in hand.

Very simply, if America’s Cup Management wants the event, they claim they seek; they have to work with those outside their wagon circle, not against them – however much this might stretch patience, stress and frustration levels.

Sail-World understands that letters will be posted later today by GGYC setting out their attempts at mediation with America’s Cup Management and SNG. They will make interesting reading.

However now is a time for cool heads, not brinkmanship and deadlines. Given that the mediation process, for whatever reason has failed, surely the next step is to wait for the conclusion of the dispute resolution process with the decision of Justice Herman Cahn, accept that, and get on with life?.

The other way this could all go, of course, is with a new format event.

Maybe for the discarded Louis Vuitton Cup, with the first event in Dubai – or another bidded venue; using an AC100 box rule and involving three Challengers from 2007 as the core group. Such moves have happened previously in Rugby, Rugby League and Cricket, as established bodies have tried to dictate competition terms to unwilling players - who responded by voting with their feet.

On the ISAF front, criticism of the chosen event card for 2012 Olympics seems to be near universal. The process for reversal/change is reasonably simple. All that is required is that a National Authority puts forward a submission advocating that a change be made and get support from other National Authorities for that move.

While that might not suit those who like bureaucracy and order, the unfortunate reality of life, is that we live in a democratic society. Bad decisions can be undone – provided they have majority support. And with the close voting of last week, it only takes a couple to jump the fence (or not abstain from voting) and the deal is done!

In the end, the National Authorities are driven by their members, who are sailors and club members, and for all their painted corporate face, most National Authorities are simply federations of clubs.

Conveniently most like to see change happen from the top down – but that’s a cop-out approach. It is just as easy to effect change from the bottom up. That means sailors taking some action. You taking some action, through your yacht club.

The ISAF Mid year meeting is about six months away.

Will you? Or will you leave it up to 'them'?


Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

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