Here we are, three days from the 'announcement' of the 'new protocol' for America's Cup 33.
Plus or minus 20 teams -- whatever -- have entered, paid the fee, or are having their entries scrutinized before these are accepted or denied.
Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco (GGYV), host club of Larry Ellison (USA)'s BMWOracle team, has declined the opportunity to enter AC33.
Moving forward, Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), head of Alinghi, together with Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) and Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV), the challenger of record, today orchestrated a pow-wow in Geneva to further 'modify' the protocol and guarantee three sailing events in 2009, with a grander event(s) to follow.
All of us have watched interviews with participating spokespersons who are comfortable and contented and happy moving forward. Good fellows!
But whatever has been decided, whatever the new committee rules may be, and whatever the new class rule -- this is a profoundly unhappy experience for the rest of us, including devotees of a better kind of America's Cup, American partisans, and sane, sensible, rational people who think that things are not quite right in the state of Denmark.
On one level, Ernesto Bertarelli won AC32 through magnificent teamwork, great commitment, and competitive sailing on the days that mattered. Nobody denies their victory. Kudos to Ernesto's charisma, leadership and management -- on the water, and on the hard.
And the event in Valencia was simply fabulous; it rivalled, maybe even exceeded the excitement of Auckland, San Diego and Perth, combined. It was brilliantly staged, beautifully managed, and a great emotional experience, just to be there.
But in the annus horribilis that followed, our emotions and spirits plummeted.
We all know the details of the saga that unfolded and how it ripped the sport apart -- dividing the world's most passionate and devoted sailors on both sides of the issue.
It's been one helluva year.
What was good today, is that hundreds of professional sailors and their families can look forward to 2009 with a reasonable degree of confidence -- the determinations of the New York courts, early next year, notwithstanding.
What truly hurt today, is the idea of 20 happy teams, cheerfully bundling into the meeting room, abandoning any sense of independence and national honor -- in fact, enthusiastically divesting those ideals -- in order to submit to Ernesto's grand plan.
Doing so, they not only accepted his god-like power and signed his extraordinary paperwork, but eminently agreed to do whatever he says to do, and achieve whatever he wants to achieve, frankly, whether they actually believe in it, or not.
Certainly, they participated in today's handy, dandy little joie d'work. And they publicly congratulated themselves for making 'contributions' to the protocol. And they plan to continue the happy work.
But they ignore the everpresent, unpleasant reality that they have submitted themselves, totally and completely, to regime rule defined by Ernesto's sense of grace and favor.
Grace and favor is an ancient European concept where kings and queens, entirely through the power of their majesty -- allow 'favored' individuals the 'grace' to live in special places, enjoy certain privileges, and be protected from adverse influences -- like the pressures of real life.
All these individuals have to do is say yes, and check their independence at the door.
Ernesto has granted His Grace and Favor to 20 teams, more or less.
They must totally and completely accept what Ernesto says, play by his rules entirely -- and only have leave to pray, earnestly if they can, that his benefice will allow them some modicum of debate over whatever follows and whatever may occur. Even if that includes their arbitrary and capricious eviction from the event, for whatever reason Ernesto desires, regardless.
The downward-spiralling fact is: they have zero power.
They have zero control.
They live and die according to Ernesto's will.
Ernesto commands the Cup completely.
Entrants have no recourse, whatever, over anything that really matters, if it comes to that.
Of course, in the preliminary stages -- like now -- ground will be given by the Prince, but only ground he wants to give.
Concessions may be made by the Prince, but only concessions that mean nothing to him.
Accommodations will be afforded, but only accommodations that cost him nothing.
Otherwise, Ernesto's grace and favor rules.
Maybe it's some sense of European tradition that allows proud, independent people to submit totally to an authority like a Swiss billionaire.
It's understandable that European teams are able to accept a state of affairs of this kind.
After all, most Europeans grew up in nations where kings ruled, where kings and queens still are heads of state, and inevitably, where the upper strata, defined by blood, money or commerce, not just hold power, but hold themselves above the rest of us.
It's hard to understand how good, egalitarian Kiwis can submit to this (although we know that Kiwis just love to sail).
It's not hard to understand how this drives Americans to the point of insanity.
In 1776, an emerging nation repudiated this kind of majestic over-reaching and set new ground rules for how decent, proud, independent Americans should live their lives.
Honor, independence, and truth drive how Americans think, even today.
There are oceans and centuries of difference between how Americans like Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMWOracle think
-- and how the House of Alinghi thinks.
Ernesto is deaf, dumb and blind to this.
And probably doesn't care.
As fellow Europeans follow meekly and obsequiously, hat in hand.
As Kiwis figure out how to get back on the water, and leave any unpleasantness behind.
And as Americans withdraw, prepare to do whatever the New York courts decide, and refuse to bow or bend the knee to the Prince Across the Water.
