Courts crush the patriotic spirit of sailing

Remember the united feeling of jubilation that swept the country in 1983 when Australia II won the America’s Cup? If you do then you’ll know why no one seemed interested in last month’s goings on in Valencia when the US team’s revolutionary wing-sailed trimaran skippered by Australian James Spithill convincingly defeated the Swiss Defender’s Alinghi 2-0 to win the 33rd America’s Cup. 

There is little doubt that the many court actions over the 33rd America’s Cup have been a major turn-off for the sport and sailing fans generally.

After three years of back and forth, asking a court to decide who is the rightful challenger of record, what boats may race, and where they can or can't race, and every permutation of rule had been twisted and examined, this was probably the least friendly competition among nations for yachting's greatest prize.

This involved around a dozen trips to the New York Supreme Court by the respective legal teams on various points to do with the conduct of the contest. All but one of these related to the protection of the Challenger’s rights under the Deed of Gift, and were won by Golden Gate Yacht Club. The one issue that was lost, was on the right of the Defender to set the Rules for the Match which included the use of engine power to run hydraulic winch systems, eliminating the need for teams of grinders aboard the yachts.

Respected American sailor Paul Cayard recently summarised the situation best when he said that the America’s Cup should be run by an independent panel.

"This is not about Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing; it is about the future of the America’s Cup. We can not let this sport do what it wants to us. We need better administration, with fair rules.”

Manipulation of the rules has killed the patriotic spirit of the Cup. Interest will remain dead until the boats, designers, builders and crews are truly of origin of the country.

Affectionately called the ‘Auld Mug’ by the sailing community, the AC no longer engages the wider public. In Valencia, AC33 was completely disconnected from the outside world. This is a far cry from the days of glory of Australia II whose heroes were lauded by a nation.

The Deed of Gift specifies that it be held in trust as a perpetual challenge trophy to promote friendly competition among nations.

Let’s hope the prudent administrators of the next event will encourage competitors to fly their national flag as proudly as those in the past and that they hold a valid passport of that country.

In 1851 when America beat 15 yachts from the Royal Yacht Squadron in a race around the Isle of Wight, Queen Victoria, who was watching at the finish line, allegedly asked who was second; the famous answer being: “Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second.”

Neither, it seems nowadays, is there any interest.

The sad fact is that the true spirit of the oldest active trophy in international sport – predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years – is currently dead.

Robin Copeland