The fact that the American defenders are taking part in the challenger round of the 35th America's Cup is a well-known and controversial fact. The fact that they are now also carrying out joint pre-test series with some of the challengers has at least Emirates Team New Zealand up in arms. Accordingly, there was a hail of criticism from New Zealand, including critical journalistic reporting. This in turn has now upset the most successful Cup sailor in history: Russell Coutts, now boss of the Cup organising agency ACEA (America's Cup Event Authority), is tired of the criticism and constant fire from his home country and is now "firing back".
Coutts published an unprecedentedly long statement on his own Facebook page. In it he writes: "It seems that the crazy season has started again. It's being driven by a few members of the press who seem to find it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction - or to properly research a balanced story for the benefit of their readers." In addition, Coutts personally attacks New Zealand reporter Dana Johannsen of the New Zealand Herald in particular, writing that her articles "often lack both accuracy and balance" and that this is why "many people dismiss her articles".
With his harsh and personal criticism, Coutts is primarily addressing an article from last week in which Johannsen describes the participation of the Cup defenders from Oracle Team USA in the challenger round as "naked self-interest" and points to "self-serving rule changes" by the defenders. He, Coutts, would therefore feel compelled to respond to the article and point out "at least some of the folly in their storytelling".
Among other things, Coutts writes: "Dana seems to have forgotten that Emirates Team New Zealand actually wanted to hold the same challenger round in New Zealand where Oracle Team USA would have competed against all the other teams. Just like they do now off Bermuda." In reality, Coutts continues, it is very difficult to accurately predict who would really benefit from joint sailing events. And it is really nothing new that the defender can take part in races or training sessions with challengers.
A visit to See's base camps - where the teams are based and work two months before the start of the America's Cup
In 1987, "Kiwi Magic" trained with the Australian defenders on "Kookaburra" before the Cup final. The defenders subsequently lost the final. In 1992, however, the defender refused to sail against the challengers and successfully defended the Cup. In 1995, the defenders followed the same strategy and lost.
For the example from 2000, Coutts refers to the New Zealand campaign, which he was still steering at the time: "We were open to sailing against the challengers, but only the Nippon Challenge accepted our offer. In retrospect, the challengers could probably have benefited more from the joint training than we did, because we won 5:0."
Looking back at the 2003 Cup year, Coutts explains: "Team New Zealand refused to sail against the challengers. They thought they were faster than everyone else with their 'Hula'. Of course, history proved them wrong. Alinghi won 5:0 at the time." So Emirates Team New Zealand sailed against Alinghi before the (next) final in 2007, and the result was much closer, although they still lost the duel 2:5." The idea that joint racing with the defender would somehow favour the defenders therefore seems somehow ridiculous, almost arrogant. "The truth is: it could be like that. Or it might not be."
Coutts then explains the purpose of the one-boat rule in the current America's Cup and its effects. "In past America's Cups we have seen both defenders and challengers build two boats and race internally. They trained in isolation for long stretches of the preparation for years. This resulted in an expensive, inefficient arms race and brought almost no commercial benefit to team sponsors during this preparation phase."
In order to prevent this kind of arms race in the current edition and to give the teams and their partners more commercial benefit, Coutts says, "it was decided to involve all teams in the race". According to Coutts, the different origins of the teams, the interest of the media and people in the respective home countries would help all teams. His conclusion: "Most teams seem to want this in the future, whether they are defenders or challengers. And I'm pretty sure that if New Zealand wins this edition, their sponsors, including the New Zealand government, will want it too!"
Coutts points out once again that the new format has saved the teams from a number of unnecessary costs and will give everyone more attention. All teams have only built one boat. Even the defender. Everyone would have fewer employees and therefore also lower costs thanks to the new rules. "It's a win-win for everyone." Coutts claims that Oracle Team USA has cut its staff by a third compared to the 34th America's Cup. At the same time, however, it is known that the big teams such as Land Rover BAR work with around 100 employees and the number is similar to that of the 34th America's Cup.
In his extensive analysis, the thinker and leader behind the scenes of the Cup, who is not controversial in his home country, also attacks his former team: "Although they present themselves as an underfunded small team, they actually have one of the largest units and the best resources. Their team size is listed as 96 employees. And while they moan that the rule changes were decided by a majority vote, I'd say it's a much more democratic process than the old days when the defender and his chosen 'Challenger of Record' decided all the rules."
Team New Zealand, says Coutts, actually voted in favour of the majority of the rule changes in this Cup cycle too, although they are not shy with their criticism. Coutts points out that "this America's Cup is historically the first to have truly independent management". The ACRM (America's Cup Race Management) was founded by and fully owned by the teams involved and is responsible for all sporting activities on the water. However, the commercial arm, the ACEA, is controlled by the defender, who therefore also bears the risk.
The regatta director and his team introduce themselves and their tasks
It seems clear from Team New Zealand's recent reactions that "they are determined to go the lone route against the consensus of the rest of the America's Cup community, including the teams and their current partners". Five teams had decided on a framework for the future that had been developed by consensus. It was of course Team New Zealand's right to take a different path. But, says Coutts: "Then I have to ask what that should be?" Coutts accuses his compatriots of blockade politics without added value for all teams. And he also dispels what he sees as the misconception of the poor underdog: "In reality, Emirates Team New Zealand is not only supported by several multi-billionaires, but also continues to receive millions of dollars from the New Zealand government: in addition to the five million dollars from taxpayers' money from the end of 2013, the team can draw down up to a further 15 million dollars in government funding as part of the Callaghan Innovation Programme."
Coutts ends his unusually passionate plea and attack on his New Zealand critics with almost pathetic words: "We remain hopeful that Emirates Team New Zealand will embrace the America's Cup as an irresistible, powerful and memorable event with a positive attitude, despite differences of opinion." Whether that will be to Coutts' liking remains to be seen. The Kiwis will certainly reach for the Cup - in their own way. And a response to Coutts' accusations should not be long in coming either.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
