Alinghi's response to Golden Gate Yacht Club's protest against the 33rd Protocol is curious in the extreme. They rail against Larry Ellison and GGYC. They say GGYC wants to destroy the Cup by denying other nations the right to sail while they sail with Alinghi alone, in catamarans.Please.
The flak catchers from Alinghi, Michel Bonnefous, President of America's Cup Management (ACM), and the PR voice Michael Hodara, assert that Ellison is the villain in the piece.
Ellison and GGYC's point is simple. The protocol is flawed. All we want is a fair protocol. Re-instate the protocol (or one similar from last year) and we are happy. Let's go racing.
Alinghi's offense (and defense) is to assert that GGYC is corrupting AC racing with catamarans that nobody wants.
Again, please.
Alinghi totally controls the protocol, therefore totally controls everything that has to do with America's Cup 33. They can eliminate anyone they disagree with, in any way, at any time, for any reason whatsoever, without any right of protest.
It's insane.
But it's the protocol. They wrote it. They can do that.
Ultimately, the Prince of Alinghi must accept that the America's Cup is not his personal property. It's greater than that.
It's a unique sporting event in which he is one of many brilliant competitors. He should draw strength from his skill and passion as a sailor, his success as a competitor, his focus as a team builder -- and not hide behind a protocol that only he controls.
He has the opportunity to create the next greatest America's Cup ever.
He already did that with America's Cup 32.
Ernesto, be the sportsman you were. Repeat your success.
2 comments:
All points well taken, Ross. Alinghi is so far off base it is ludicrous. The only good news is the earlier racing schedule in 2009. Speaking as a sailing lover/attorney (www.ckrobertslaw.com)I hope the NY litigation will get the situation back on track.
I hope you are right, Christina. The challenges are many. One, every declared team wants to get on with the competition, designing their boats and perfecting their ability to compete. Oracle does, too. But the challenger community really has laid a lot on the doorstep of Oracle. We'll pursue our challenge, they say. You do the legal stuff. Oracle's challenge has not been acepted, yet Oracle pursue team members and design expertise, like everyone. Mr. Bertarelli really can serve America's Cup by making reasonable modifications to the protocol, reinstating the 32nd Protocol while still pursuing his goal for fabulous 90-foot boats, which virtually everyone wants, so long as they are not catamarans. Russell Coutts (NZL, Oracle) loves cats. But I don't think anyone else does. Let's hope Mr. Bertarelli will find a way to rise above this debate, create a new protocol, and let everyone get on with the challenge of competing to win the new 33rd America's Cup. If he does that, he will have the world in the palm of his hand. All the world wants is a fair protocol. Then let the competition begin. The Prince of Alinghi, surely, wants this, too.
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