I'm confused, but here's how I see it.
An official statement issued on Tuesday on how the America's Cup process would move forward following the tragic accident last week said:
‘Regatta Director Iain Murray and Golden Gate Yacht Club Vice Commodore Tom Ehman will announce the members of an independent panel to review all aspects of training and racing of AC72 yachts in the 34th America's Cup.
The panel will report and make recommendations to the organizers and the competitors.'
It then went on to say:
....... the review and report will be conducted independently of any organizer or competitor in the 34th America's Cup.'
While the panel that was announced yesterday (see YW news story) is clearly a group of some of the world's most experienced and acknowledged experts, several of them still appear to be closer to the Cup than you might expect
I appreciate that the teams were unanimous in their support for the newly formed committee and given that they are the ones who will potentially feel most anxious about getting back out on the water, their support is essential. But surely having set out to leave no stone unturned, (not the Murray or Ehman's words but the implication), in looking into the events that resulted in the sad loss of a crew member would require a committee that has no ties whatsoever with the Cup.
It also seemed strange that if a full review was to take place with the aim of making recommendations to ensure that the event was as safe as possible, surely nothing should be ruled in or out at this stage until the findings of the review are complete? And yet, the news from last night's press conference was that the America's Cup programme was going ahead as planned.
On commenting on the meeting that was held with the teams earlier in the day, Tom Ehman said that, "there was not even a thought given this morning at the teams meeting to do anything but continue apace and make plans and preparations for this summer."
Does that mean that the boats have already been deemed suitable and safe?
It was also surprising to hear that the teams, who had agreed not to sail out of respect for Andrew Simpson, his team and his family, could be back out on the water this Thursday. God forbid, but what if another accident happened before the review had taken place or the findings announced? It wouldn't take much to imagine the headlines that might follow.
And then there was the issue of the permits issued by the US Coast Guard. According to Ehman the event doesn't have them yet and wouldn't expect to as racing is not yet underway. The teams are in a training phase at present. The US Coast Guard does have some involvement with this process but apparently not as a member of the committee. Instead, Lt. Jon Lane, who is an experienced coast guard investigator, will be acting ‘as a liaison.'
But the investigation into this tragedy doesn't stop at US shores. Following a freedom of information request to the UK's Department of Transport it appears that the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch is keen to know what led to the fatality. They told us that:
‘In accordance with the IMO Casualty Investigation Code, the UK is a substantially interested state in the investigation into the fatal accident on board Artemis Racing's AC72. MAIB is, therefore, in close liaison with the relevant US investigation authorities who are investigating the accident.'
This is clearly a very sensitive and difficult time. From my personal experience of being on the wrong side of a tragedy in the past, I feel strongly about anybody jumping to conclusions and knee jerk reactions, particularly the press. I also have a great deal of sympathy for all of those involved from families to teams and the organisers. But I can't help feeling that after feeling encouraged by the clear and simple announcement on Tuesday of plans for the independent review committee, that the huge momentum of this America's Cup cycle is having a greater effect.
As I say, I'm confused.
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