America's Cup Chess

I open with my pawn (e4).

You open with your pawn (e5).

Then I move my bishop (b5). And so on. Remember?

Somewhere beyond the standard openings, things get interesting.

It reminds me of America's Cup.

Knowing that movable ballast will plunge their vessel's length on the waterline over the limits imposed by the Deed of Gift, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) decides, for the first time ever in America's Cup history, to include the rudder of the competitive vessel (the trimaran of Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC)) in that vessel's waterline measurement, forcing it over the limit imposed by the Deed of Gift. Ha, ha!

That's e4.

GGYC responds by challenging SNG's movable ballast, reminding SNG that the Deed requires every element of the vessel's racing load to be aboard for measurement, as SNG (in dissembling mode) avers their ballast isn't part of the racing load.

That's e5.

GGYC marks their response by punching the mega-clock of mega-lawyer David Boies of the mega-law firm, Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP, who files a memorandum of law in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in support of GGYC (a document that was very well written and very clearly articulated, we might add, at least for lubbers like us).

That's Bp5.

Meanwhile, His Excellency Fred Meyer (SUI), Vice Commodore of SNG, departs from all convention, repudiates his prior behaviors, flaunts elaborate courtesies, and writes a surprisingly temperate, respectful letter to his senior counterpart at GGYC, Commodore Marcus Young (USA).

From Vice Commodore Meyer, this, also, is a first in America's Cup history.

The dust barely settled on his powdered peruke, the Vice Commodore brings greetings from the Alpine nation, enquires into the health of the California Commodore and his colleagues, family and friends, utters felicitations of joy, and shares abundant blessings . . . well, no, that's overdoing it.

But Vice Commodore Meyer overdid it also.

In the first mannered letter he has ever written, Meyer sought to document that GGYC representatives had actually visited the desert port of Ras el-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, and uttered nice remarks about preparations there for America's Cup 33.

Why?

Well, that's chess. It's a move.

At some point in the Grand Tour of the Courts of New York, SNG will seek to prove, somehow, some way, whatever actually happened, and whatever GGYC subsequently did, that GGYC actually visited the Middle East venue, and liked it.

And here is Myer's letter to prove it.

Anyway, that's the middle game.

Your move.