RNZYS tries to distance itself from Saudi regatta

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has tried to put distance between itself and the selection of Saudi Arabia for an America’s Cup event, after human rights concerns have been repeatedly raised.

The Red Sea port of Jeddah has been picked for a preliminary regatta before 2024’s America’s Cup 37, despite the kingdom’s oppressive human rights attitude.

The RNZYS has remained tightlipped and non-committal over its Jeddah position, as it has sought to avoid openly supporting it or going against Team NZ and backing the human rights concerns.

However, in an email provided to Stuff, dated after the April announcement, vice admiral Gillian Williams told one member that the selection of Jeddah wasn’t the RNZYS’s or Team New Zealand’s (ETNZ) decision.

‘‘It is an America’s Cup Events decision. We are only involved in the America’s Cup match in October 2024,’’ Williams said.

The private email is the first indication of the RNZYS’s position, revealing that it wants to avoid the responsibility of Jeddah’s selection to its own membership, and wants to try to put space between itself and Team NZ and Jeddah’s selection.

However, the statement is also factually wrong, as the decision to race in Saudi Arabia was made by Team NZ, with its control over America’s Cup Events. Grant Dalton is the boss of both bodies.

Former ETNZ director James Farmer said it was ‘‘nonsense’’ that the RNZYS was only involved with the cup in 2024.

‘‘Under the Protocol for AC37, which are the rules for the Challenge and Defence, all competitors are required to participate in ‘all AC37 Events’ (which include the preliminary regattas).’’

As such, American Magic, representing the New York Yacht Club, has applied to an arbitration panel to try to avoid sailing in Jeddah, saying it would unsafe for its team members.

In a statement to Stuff that again ignored questions about its Jeddah position, RNZYS commodore Andrew Aitken said it supported America’s Cup Events and ETNZ.

Aitken then echoed Dalton’s line that sailing in Saudi Arabia would improve women’s participation in sport, despite severe restrictions on women’s involvement in society there. ‘‘The America’s Cup is helpful in bringing that vision to fruition.’’

Farmer likened the selection of Team NZ racing in Jeddah to the All Blacks touring apartheid-era South Africa. He said Saudi Arabia was using the America’s Cup and a woman as the head of its sailing federation as sportwashing.