Is this for real???

[Guest]

SCUTTLEBUTT EXTRA 3 - Sunday, February 14, 2010 (www.sailingscuttlebutt.com)

 

Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,

providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and

dock talk . . . with a North American focus.

 

 

An update to supplement Scuttlebutt 3028 (and Extra 1 and 2)

 

 

SCUTTLEBUTT EXCLUSIVE - BENNETT RISES ABOVE RIFF

By Cory E. Friedman, America's Cup analyst

Valencia, Spain (February 14, 2010) - By now many 'Buttheads know that

challenger USA 17 crushed defender Alinghi 5 in both races to win the 33rd

America's Cup. However, reliable sources tell Scuttlebutt that even when you

thought it could not get any worse - it did. The defense club - Société

Nautique De Genève's (SNG) - had their Race Committee actually go on strike

and refuse to start Sunday's race ordered by ISAF approved PRO Harold

Bennett. To begin the second race of the Match, Bennett was forced to draft

Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) observer Tom Ehman and a Guardia Civil cop on

board the RC boat and ordered them to run the flags as Bennett counted down

himself.

 

Sunday was the last day a race could be run before several days of strong

winds and dirty weather struck. Unlike previous days, even though conditions

were not suitable for a race, Bennett got the boats out early and they sat

on the course all day with the 4:30 pm cut off for a start looming. Around 4

pm the wind had shifted and filled in and Bennett started preparing for a

start. SNG's race committee just did not want to start, claiming that the

waves were in excess of 1 meter - Alinghi's sea state tolerance. Bennett

ordered the AP down and the Race Committee flat out refused. A major row

ensued and both sides held their ground.

 

Luckily, prior to the first race, with questions about SNG's RC's ability to

overrule Bennett swirling, Bennett had requested an observer from GGYC. GGYC

appointed Tom Ehman, SNG bête noire, which lit SNG up and the solution was

to bring along an SNG observer and minder for Ehman. Bennett lived up to his

reputation for even handed officiating in Race 1, when he resisted SNG's

pressure to start the race before the wind filled in.

 

In the face of the SNG RC's intransigence, Bennett's solution was to draft

Ehman and the Guardia Civil cop and order them to run the flags. The race

was started at 4:25, just 5 minutes before the deadline and over the SNG

RC's strike. Without Bennett's decisive action, the Cup would still be on

hold for days, if not weeks. The result is history as USA crushed Alinghi

and brought the Cup home to the United States of America.

 

More details to follow in subsequent reports - right now it's party on.

[Guest]

If that is true just how bloody dodgy must Ernesto be.

 

So SNG cocked up yet again and got a honest PRO, that'll teach them

 

I tried to tell Harold No once during a regatta at Kawau. It was a big learning experience for this young fella, one he sure as hell won't repeat. I have a LOT of time for HB style.

[Clipper 343]

Did anyone listen to the Asslingi press conference? What a whiny bitch EB is.

 

Amongst his gems were comments about how the Courts favour americans, and how europeans don't have a chance. Also complained that the BMW boat wasn't as declared, as they had changed the boat 4 times and built a wing - "It wasn't fair"

[Fogg 427]

On that basis can we please consign to the grave the expression 'winging pom' and replace it with 'winging swiss cheese'?

[Guest]

[wheels 543]

You bet me too it Clipper. I couldn't believe what he said. The US courts put the Europeans at a disadvantage. What a load of crap. I can't believe I am cheering for the American Court system.