Editor's Comments
N.B. This was written and printed before the announcement that Palma had been dropped from the list of candidates for the America´s Cup.
Dear Islander,
To give you an update, here’s the situation on the America’s cup.
Following the delivery on the 31st July of a 320 page document to Geneva by Alberto Pons, the manager of Real Club Nautico Palma, a delegation of 9 people travelled to Geneva on the 20th of August to make a presentation to the "Americas Cup Management" who, under the supervision of Alinghi´s boss Ernesto Bertarelli, will finally decide who will host the next America’s Cup.
There was a 30-minute presentation followed by an hour’s questioning on everything ranging from the bay of Palma’s wind patterns to transportation and accommodations issues.
It has now been revealed that part of the proposition of Palma’s candidacy involves 3 "trials" every year starting in 2004 through to the finals in 2007.
In the plans provision has been made at the end of the Muelle Viejo to accommodate up to 17 teams.
The delegation members were; candidacy coordinator Jaime Ensenat; Gabriel Barcelo (Pres. RCNP); Juan Jose Lemm (civil engineer); Juan Morro (architect; Antonio Bosch (economist); Vincente Esteva (University Professor); Enrique Ordonez (Lawyer); Pepote Ballestar (Balearic Gov. sports advisor) and Dulce Linares (Balearic Gov. councillor).
On their return and through interviews with local newspapers the delegation said that they were extremely optimistic regarding the chances of Palma being selected.
The final decision has been scheduled for the 15th December.
As you will see from the front page the local Guardia Civil have been busy, and will continue to be, working from tip-offs and by conducting random checks on boats.
Recently two high-profile Germans have been found to have bought false German "yachting" certificates and the suspected con-man arrested in Andratx.
On the same subject James Stevens of the UK´s RYA would like to remind anyone thinking of taking a course to obtain one of their certificates to check with the RYA´s headquarters to make sure that the individual or "sea school" is RYA approved.
They, along with the Guardia Civil, have recently identified some falsifications and have closed some loopholes. They do believe however that one local company are still purporting (on the internet) to be offering non-approved qualifications.
I hope to be able to give you more details of this in the next issue.
Have a good end of season.
John Rule