The New York Yacht Club and the inability to keep up with the times

The Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Christopher J. Culver, is one who doesn’t mince words. During the 36th America’s Cup he said “it is time to get the boats back on the water, we will also win to close with the AC 75.” A few races later American Magic scuffed and we all know how that turned out. That exit apparently did not sit well with Terry Hutchinson, skipper of the American team, with whom relations became rather chilly, to the point that the ways of the team and the prestigious Yacht Club have been going their separate ways for a few months now.

Commodore Culver as said is not one to mince words, and here he reappears on the America’s Cup stage for another “edgy” communication, this time about NYYC’s intentions in the excellent 37th Cup.

COMMODORE CULVER’S STATEMENT

“There are few private clubs that have a stronger connection to a single competition than the New York Yacht Club has with the America’s Cup, which we founded and held for 132 years. However, ultimately we have a responsibility to act in the best interests of our members. Given the continuing uncertainty regarding the 37th America’s Cup, we have decided to put our challenge for this edition on hold.

For more than six months, the New York Yacht Club and other potential challengers have been waiting for clarity on the venue, timing and rules for the 37th America’s Cup. Time is never on the side of new teams in this great competition, but at some point, we have to recognize when there simply isn’t enough left to build a competitive challenge,” explained Commodore. However, it is not known how much time he is talking about, as a date for the next edition of the Cup has not yet been released.

WHICH TEAM FOR THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB?

It is not clear what challenge Culver is referring to, since NYYC ended its relationship with American Magic and had, however, struck a deal with the team of Starts&Stripes, the stone diner of the 36th edition, the announced and never-born challenge, which does not have a de facto America’s Cup team in place and until now has been devoted to minor initiatives that have not, at the moment, directly affected the Cup.

To date NYYC had no crew or trained team. The club had also been involved in the rumors regarding a potential lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court to have Ineos misrecognized as Challenge of Record .

As much as the situation regarding the 37th America’s Cup is indeed uncertain and Team New Zealand is dragging it out too long, the positions of the NYYC and its Commodore for some time now have sounded a bit like those of plastered “boomers,” pass it off, rather than those of a Club in step with the times and open to the changes taking place in the sailing community. The reference to “members’ interest,” to “boats that need to go back to sailing on water,” seem to come from the sailing of another era and not from that which flies at 40 or 50 knots, gybing and tacking on foils.

The America’s Cup loses a potential challenger Club, there is no telling what Start&Stripes will do, but American Magic is really going to make the Cup instead by going its own ways.

Ultimately, the exit of the club that held the Cup for 132 years is not necessarily a “drama” for the next edition. In fact, this does not necessarily imply having fewer challengers than in the past edition. What is certain is that the paths of the Old Pitcher and the club, which is headquartered at 37 West 44th Street in Manhattan, seem to have parted, for the time being, but already well before Commodore’s announcement.

Mauro Giuffrè

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