Russell Coutts (left) and Brad Butterworth (right) shake hands at the World Yacht Racing Forum in Monaco. Image copyright OnEdition.
by Paul Cayard
Monte Carlo - Just leaving Monaco this morning following two days here for the World Yacht Racing Forum.
Now in its second year, the Forum is really growing into quite an event. There were two parts this year: a commercial, sports side and in another hall, running contemporaneously, a technical forum with subects ranging from composite rigging to standards for construction of racing yachts.
It is kind of a collection of who's who in yacht racing from the designers like Juan K and Vincent Prevost to the sailors like Brad Butterworth, Russell Coutts and Michele Desjoyeaux. I participated with Russell and Brad in the forum on the America's Cup. The tone was very friendly and there was a demontrative expression from both of the teams to get out on the water and have their race ASAP. Each team showed a very high energy video/slideshow of their extremely impressive sailing machines. The fact is that after all the frustration and ugliness of the past two years, the race between the two giant multihulls will be a special moment in our sports history and something to see.
In the midst of the Forum, a light bulb went off in my head; we may have missed a great opportunity in the past two years. Rather than just sitting around and waiting in frustration, we, the Challengers, should have taken the initiative to put forward a Protocol to resolve a lot of the problems plaguing the current match. We have a unique opportunity right now; neither Alinghi and BMW Oracle knows who will be holding the cards for the 34th America's Cup. So this is a time where each may be more willing to agree to a "fair and independant" event managment structure. Either could find themselves on the Challenger side for 34th America's Cup and that party would certainly want a modern and objective event organization.
So after I mentioned this idea, many people came to me and said, "Hey, that's a great idea. Its not too late. Get to work!"
I am in Geneva today visiting Torbjorn Tornqvist, the Artemis chief, and then my friends at Rolex this afternoon. San Fran tomorrow. Anyone need some frequent flyer miles?
Cayard Sailing
World Yacht Racing Forum
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