Editorial- So near, but so far, on America's Cup
by . on 11 Nov 2008
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's New Zealand newsletter for 11 November 2008
Continuing the themes from our last newsletter, the Desafio Trophy has concluded in Valencia, with the unsurprising result that Team Alinghi, helmed by NZer Murray Jones has emerged as the winner from Luna Rossa and Team Origin with hosts Desafio Espanol fourth and last.
The latter result was somewhat surprising for the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finalist, now helmed by Paul Cayard. However maybe that also underlines the standard of Luna Rossa and Team Origin (Ben Ainslie).
At the same regatta, Alinghi skipper, Brad Butterworth gave an impromptu media conference which was fairly wide ranging on the matters surrounding the America's Cup. The full 30 minute interview can be found at www.valenciasailing.com, along with some excellent images of the racing over the weekend.
In this issue we have featured a mini transcript, of that interview, focusing on the next America's Cup class, and some of the issues in the 33rd America's Cup Protocol and Alinghi's thinking behind them.
After reviewing the positions of the respective protagonists in America's Cup Legal, it seems that the differences are now very slight, or could be resolved by a solution that is not the adopted position of either side. For instance, having the International Sailing Federation appoint (rather than just approve) all race officials would get around one sticking point - that of independence of officials and the ability of the Defender to fire the same at whim, while ensuring independence and fair play.
Reflecting on Butterworth's comments it hard to see how a Defender could gain any real advantage from participation in the Challenger Selection Series, provided they did not participate in the final knock out phase, and did not have the ability to tune up with a second yacht of their own, or against one of the eliminated yachts.
Yes, the modern traditional Cup would be set aside - but bear in mind that the first Cup was one US yacht sailing in a fleet of British yachts around the Isle of Wight. Maybe tradition is in the eye of the beholder, but we digress.
What needs to be balanced is the gain through continued legal action and the possible outcome of the the current decision being overturned on Appeal sometime in the late first quarter of next year; against the opportunity to get a multi-challenger regatta together, now, for racing in just over 18 months time, with a different style of America's Cup.
Again the differences between the sides seem to be very slight, and with some communication and an abandonment of the 'my way or the highway' attitude that seems to have permeated things America's Cup since July 2007, an agreed solution should be possible.
Butterworth makes an interesting point about the fairness of the selection series competition needing to be balanced on both the Defender and Challenger side. Looking back to the pre-1983 era, it was only the strength of the Defender Trials that kept the trophy in the USA.
Once the Louis Vuitton Cup became properly established, the scales turned the other way, to the point where the Challenger and winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup generally won the America's Cup itself.
The two-boat programs run by Team New Zealand in 2000 and 2003, and again by Alinghi in 2007 were the first not to involve multiple Defence teams - and both programs were tedious, expensive and added little to the event, in terms of the spectacle. But they did, of course, add to the intrigue. With two successful Defences out of three that style of program could be argued as being successful, but as an ongoing model they are probably of limited value. Their time may well be past.
In this edition we feature several reports from the ISAF Annual Conference in Madrid. In the Womens Olympic Match Racing Equipment selection process, the Elliott 6metre favoured by the ISAF Working Party, has passed the first stage of selection at the meeting and the final decision will be up to the ISAF Council.
The other piece of New Zealand related news is that Yachting New Zealand have indicated an interest in staging the 2013 ISAF Youth Worlds in New Zealand. The event attracts over 65 countries and would be the largest sporting event, in any sport, ever held in New Zealand in terms of international participation. The outcome of that bid will not be determined until next year's ISAF Meeting. Five countries have indicated their interest in staging the regatta.
ISAF are running a full website on the conference, with daily reports, and are are providing excellent coverage - in contrast to previous years when 'Mum' has been the word, with only very innocuous media releases being put out a couple of time throughout the meeting.
There has been carnage aplenty after the start of the Vendee Globe, with six of the singlehanders returning to the marina at Les Sables d'Olonne.
In this issue we have featured a story about how www.northsails.co.nz!North_Sails_New_Zealand were instrumental in the recovery of Alex Thompson's Hugo Boss, after she was in collision with a fishing boat three weeks before the start of the Round the World Race.
North's neighbours in Pakenham Street, www.southernspars.com!Southern_Spars were also involved and the story by Zoe Hawkins underlines just how truly international both these Auckland organisations have become.
Finally, it is a beautiful day here at Takapuna Beach, for the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day - a far cry from the horrors of World War 1 which ended on 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. What a different world we live in today.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
nzeditor@sail-world.com
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/50684