After Early Decisions, Let’s Get on With it!

It’s critical for followers of the America’s Cup not to get distracted from the big prize in the accumulating fog of stories, rumors and innuendo by so-called cup commentators, both in print and on-line.

First, the winner et al of the America’s Cup sets the bulk of the rules for the next party, always has, always will. These are the rules that count - - the next venue, the boats for the competition, and the preliminary races. This year it’s Ernesto Bertarelli and his Alinghi champs making these calls. They can because they won, pure and simple (albeit by one second, but who’s counting, in this winner-take-all competition).

And they wasted no time - - immediately issuing the Protocol of initial rules, and selecting a Challenger of Record, a paper tiger right now, but one growing fangs.

Second, the winner et al can expect to be the subject of lawsuits and other legal maneuverings, large and small, from the losing teams. And in America, where law suits and legal challengers are as common as tasteless rap singers, we have an early suit for quick resolution. These challenges also, by definition, represent a right of passage of sorts, for the winners to press through. Losing teams want to feel as though all avenues of recourse have been taken to win the cup, both on and off the water, sadly, since this is supposed to be a SAILING CHALLENGE, not a LEGAL CALLENGE between national teams.

Finally, the winner team for the America’s Cup is expected to try a number of ways to prevent others from taking the cup away. Why not? There’s so much at stake, and that’s the way it works. That’s the ugly political side of the Cup, AND OF MOST SPORTING CONTESTS, including no less that the Olympics. Politics rarely hides and the America’s Cup match is no different. It’s political and always has been.

But politics is a double-edged sword in the open marketplace of the world’s news media. Two can play and lots more, too. One day’s Defender can become tomorrow’s Challenger.

However, the good news is that sailboat races in general, despite all the legal and political maneuverings, still require boats to cross the finish line first - - against fickle tides and currents, bad and good starts, durable or failing equipment, rigs and sails, and in front of spectator boats and cameras. It can be shown that All the Kings Horses and All the Kings Men (even some women) NEVER guarantee the outcome. In fact, most attempts at “buying races” or “stacking the rules” just piss off the other competitors enough to make them try just that harder to beat the leaders by out-sailing them and out-smarting them. When they do, they know they’ve beaten both the boat and the man.

Mr. Bertarelli has chosen some roads less traveled for the next cup (bigger boats, raced more often, even against the Defender, and let’s not wait four years, but only two - - all courageous, if not a little daring, decisions). Bravo for making these tough decisions and getting the information out in a timely manner. He is to congratulated and respected for his decisions. He even has added a gloss of respectability around the whole thing by appointing committees and legal eagles to handle potential problems. In general, these should all be irrelevant to the next winner who, hopefully, will win out on the water, fair and square.

As in all sailing regattas, some rules will the practical and simple to comply with, while others will be somewhat gray and vague. So far, hats off to Alinghi. So far, the decisions have been crystal clear and within reason (if not a little controversial). So far, things are on track. So be it.