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Yachting journalists keen to get a jump on their rivals in reporting the next America’s Cup are no doubt already checking accommodation options in Cowes and Auckland. They would do better to start looking for a decent hotel room in New York state.
When the INEOS/UK team lodged their “Challenger of Record” paperwork a nanosecond after New Zealand retained the Cup on March 17, they claimed to assert a right to host a “Deed of Gift” challenge, presumably sailed on an appropriate stretch of the Solent. This seemed to be a transparent ploy to grab a home-waters advantage and thereby become the defender rather than the challenger for the next full series.
Now, the New York Yacht Club is attempting to muscle themselves into their own seat at the table by submitting a separate challenge to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, complete with a 150-page draft Protocol. NYYC Commodore, Chris Culver, proclaimed that the Protocol “includes the tools necessary to improve the long-term commercial viability and global reach of the competition, while remaining true to the Deed of Gift and to the spirit of one of international sport’s oldest competitions.” Ho hum. There’s also the usual pious piffle about reducing costs, more one-design components, limiting the size of the teams, crew nationality requirements, a one-boat-per-cycle limit, etc etc. These are lofty ideals that nobody involved has, in the past, shown the slightest intention of honouring.
So where is all this headed if – as is likely – the Kiwis, British and Americans cannot agree on conditions for the next Cup? The New York Supreme Court…
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