Sailing: Politics rules the waves

Andrew Preece in Auckland sees the first salvoes of the America's Cup

SEVEN TOWER cranes, 30 restaurant license applications and a downtown dockside area that looks like the combination of a frantic building site and a feverish boatyard tell the story of the America's Cup, which is due to kick off in just over seven months.

Whatever the outcome of the ongoing political wranglings, America's Cup 2000 will be a spectacular event. Auckland - in the form of several warring factions all eager to take their slice from construction, docking concessions, internet options and television rights - has taken the Cup to its heart. And whether it is the prospect of most of the 10 to 12 participating syndicates all being accommodated together in the downtown Viaduct Basin area or up to 80 of the world's flashiest superyachts in the adjacent dockside area or even the possibility of some of the finest, most watchable and potentially intriguing sailing out on the Hauraki Gulf, this America's Cup promises to upstage even the Perth regatta back in 1987.

But behind the scenes all is not necessarily well. The very nature of an event where custody of not only the trophy but its rules as well passes from winner to winner always means that a level playing field is a dream. Add the fact that the challengers are essentially a disparate group whose unity holds firm only until one feels a slyly gained advantage will benefit their cause, and it is easy to understand why the America's Cup is always more about politics than sailing.

Even this last week when the last of the Road to the America's Cup regattas was being staged in Auckland, the politics upstaged the racing. Dawn Riley's "co-ed" America True syndicate, Bertrand Pace's French Le Defi Bouygues Telecom Transiciel and Francesco de Angelis's Italian Prada team were all racing round robin-style to take on the mighty Team New Zealand. But while the sailors were battling out on the water - Prada were yesterday victorious so get to take on Team New Zealand today - ashore the lawyers, politicians and key syndicate figures were arguing over television and internet rights.

The American ESPN network is a backer of the overall television package to the tune of around $4m, half the operating budget. But that carefully negotiated deal was jeopardised when one of the syndicates, Young America, secured Fox Sports Net as a sponsor. ESPN threatened to withdraw, scaring all of the other challengers, particularly the American contingent that had sold their own sponsorship packages on the back of ESPN involvement.

The uncertainty that still exists over the major television deal is a contributory factor to the fact that of the challengers only the Italians have a full operating budget in place. It may well have contributed to the almost certain demise of a British challenge that two weeks ago appeared at last to be on a sensible financial footing. No one doubts that the issue will be resolved over the next few days, but it may be too late for some.

There could be up to 11 challengers battling from October to February for the right to meet Team New Zealand. Local intelligence suggests that nine is certain and ten likely. But the one certainty is that there is plenty more political action before the first Louis Vuitton Challenger series race begins in anger on 18 October.