How does Ernesto explain CNEV?

This is the America's Cup lagoon
at the Port of Valencia.

If Mr. Ernesto Bertarelli, the Prince of Alinghi, gets his way, a Spanish challenger, Club Nautico Espagnol de Vela (CNEV), will be the challenger of record for America's Cup 33.

That's a very tough call. Frankly, it cannot be explained.

There is nothing about CNEV that Ernesto could possibly explain, in any way, whatsoever, in any forum, in any court in the country, his country, our country, or Spain, and look any judge in the eye, put any kind of reasonable case forward, and escape from the courtroom with his honor and integrity intact.

That would be utterly impossible.

In the same way, we can't imagine that Ernesto ever wants to be in any court of law in Valencia, New York, or anywhere, in order to try to explain CNEV as a valid challenger for the America's Cup.

It's totally Alice in Wonderland.

In fact, there could only be one explanation for Ernesto's passion for CNEV, a sham yacht club that has no boats, no members, has never conducted a regatta of any kind, on any arm of the sea, anywhere, as required by the ancient Deed of Gift that governs the America's Cup.

It's all about Valencia.

You are Ernesto. The fate of America's Cup 33 is in your hands. You are dealing with the City of Valencia, Port of Valencia authorities, regional politicans, and somewhere down the line (or up the line) the authorities in Madrid.

Somewhere in the background there may even be that great yachting fan, the King of Spain himself.

If you are Ernesto, and you want to curry favor (persuade, argue positively, build friends), I think you say Valencia is where you want to sail. We love the city, the port, the lagoon, the ambience, the everything. To convince Spanish authorities of this, and to prove how much you love Valenica and its region, not to mention how much you need the millions of dollars they will provide, you probably have to say one thing.

We have selected a Spanish challenger of record.

The Spanish challenger is CNEV.

If you were a Spanish politician, your reaction would be predictable. This is great! Alinghi's America's Cup isn't a Swiss thing, it's our thing now. We must support it. Let's support Valencia, let's support Alinghi, let's keep this event here. Let's give the Prince of Alinghi the millions he's asking for. And let's even do more than that.

After all, a Spanish yacht club is challenging for the cup.

It will be good for our city, and our nation.

Inevitably, if you are a Spanish politician, that's very fine.

But if CNEV runs aground, as assuredly it will, well, then, despite what was said and promised earlier, Ernesto can say he did everything he had to do to ensure that Valencia retained the America's Cup.

In response to any questioning of the challenger's bona fides, he has a simple answer.

It's not my problem, says Ernesto.

I gave Spain the opportunity.

I did everything I possibly could.

Unbelievably, the court stripped it way.

But one thing is sure.

We are here in Valencia.