If there’s one thing we know about the America’s Cup it is that there is always some level of palace intrigue. Most often the subterfuge surfaces fairly early with a good deal of noise. This Cup though is different. Never before has there been so little news from either the teams or the event.
When promoting the event ambition did not match reality and subsequently fewer teams are competing than desired. Multiple factors in play there starting with a new boat that, obviously, most people couldn’t see how to fund. Toss in a global pandemic and it’s a prescription for a less than optimum event outcome.
One wonders about the pressures faced within the event organizers to try and make sure their ability matched projections. While there is a good deal of public information from the event side of things, there is precious little about the actual challengers and arbitration outcomes.
How do we know that all the teams are actually entered legally? Is it possible one of the teams was entered as a corporate entity rather than as a club entry, as is required by the Deed of Gift? If a team entered as, essentially, a corporation there are multiple questions. Why did they not enter as a club? Why were they allowed to enter under the auspices of anything but a club? Does the mutual consent clause in the Deed of Gift allow the Defender and Challenger to waive entry requirements stated in the Deed?
Even if a team is sailing in the Prada Cup without the benefit of being entered via a club, is there anyone who can do anything about it? Food for thought…
