6:09 PM Thu 11 Feb 2010 GMT
|
|
'Bob Fisher'
Daniel Forster
|
Bob Fisher reviews the stalled 33rd America's Cup:
The glass is falling hour by hour, The glass will fall forever,
But if you break the bloody glass You won't hold up the weather.
Louis Macneice - Bagpipe Music
Five days from the projected start, the 33rd America's Cup remains stagnant. The sun shines in Valencia but the wind has a cutting edge to its iciness that is matched only by the idiocy of holding the pinnacle event of the sport in frail craft more suited to the flat water sailing associated with a European lake when the regulations demand an ocean course free of headlands.
One gets the impression that even the local maritime authorities are being misled, nay, fooled even, into believing that the two protagonists' craft are dangerous. Had they been built fit for purpose, they might not have aroused any fears, but if they are frightened about sailing if the wind exceeds 15 knots and the waves are more than a metre high, they instantly attract the authorities' attention.
So, the possibility of racing at the upper (undisclosed) limits of conditions becomes remarkably reduced by outside pressure. Under no circumstances must any blame be laid at the feet of Harold Bennett, the PRO, even if the race committee consists predominantly members of SNG. Harold holds the reins and will call the tune, even if there is pressure placed on him by the other members of the race committee.
One does feel, however, that he is restrained by the knowledge that one of these massive multihulls is more frail than the other and was definitely not built to withstand the vagaries of the weather in the western Mediterranean in February, as it should have been. Reports that Wednesday's weather in Ras al-Kaimah was of a flat sea and 7-10 knots of breeze can only further aggravate some members of SNG.
Harold Bennett may well remember he has been through this scenario before. After the third race in 2003, nine days passed when, for a variety of reasons, mostly the lack of wind, no racing was possible. Then strong winds took out more days and, on Thursday 27th February, Bennett, the race officer for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, announced he had had a communication from the Auckland harbour master via the New Zealand police. It stated: 'In view of the sea state, weather conditions and forecast, I recommend that we do not race today on the grounds of public safety and I should be grateful if you could take this recommendation into consideration when deciding on today's programme. The forecast for tomorrow looks promising and we would welcome early confirmation of racing tomorrow.' It was signed by James McPetrie, the Auckland harbour master.
It is interesting to note that Harold Bennett respected the request, but there were many, many more spectator craft prepared to go out on the Waitemata that there are here in Valencia, and one has to note that the numbers of those here are diminishing. Inactivity breeds boredom and there is no bigger turn-off of an event than boredom. Even the most case-hardened of journalists have found it necessary to interview other journalists than listen to the 'spin' served up in repetitive press conferences.
I missed luncheon to attend a series of 'spins' today, so I could be in handbag-swinging mood by the time it comes to dinner, and just for those who are unaware, it is virtually impossible to start that meal in Valencia until 2100. Happily, I know that my companion in this meal is a highly civilised yachtsman and that he will provide some other topics than the America's Cup.
by Bob Fisher
|
