In what looks like an not only an abuse of the rules, a PR disaster, and perhaps outright discrimination, the Transpacific Yacht Club has, less than 24 hours before their start, cancelled/rejected the doublehanded entry of the Tripp 40 B-Quest challenged America for their Transpac race to Hawaii.
The reason? One of the sailors is blind. Claiming a litany of “issues”, some of which are, according to the sailors, completely false, The TPYC is alleging that the “sightless” sailor, Urban Miyares who is a very experienced sailor and has sailed a Transpac in 2003, could not rescue the other sailor on board, should said sailor fall overboard.
This seems to be yet another example of a misuse of power, judgement and an incredibly punitive decision. Â What’s next – deny people’s eligibility because they are too fat? Too small? Â Too black? Too gay? We’ve seen how the TPYC has handled issues in the past and we have been unimpressed. This, however is a new low. Stand by for more.
And of course you have something to say, yes?
