Damn The Torpedoes

When it comes to hosting the America’s Cup racing, visions of sugar plums often dance in the heads of local government. As opportunity may not knock twice, a sense of urgency can conflict with how decisions are typically made. These reports come from Bermuda and Portsmouth:

♦ The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has won a Supreme Court appeal against the handling of the South Basin project, which is being developed for the America’s Cup Event Village. While the Bermuda Government had said the project was environmentally sound, BEST argued that the assessments that had been carried out were inadequate and flawed.

Work on the project has already begun, with materials collected from the dredging of the North Channel being moved to the South Basin. The work caused sediment plumes in the basin this year, which BEST claimed could potentially have more serious consequences than suggested by the initial environmental advisories. Full report.

♦ Preparations for next summer’s America’s Cup World Series have come under fire amid claims that Portsmouth organisers haven’t gained permission over the size of the event site in the city but have already began selling tickets for the event. Organizers have changed the layout of the event without permission, and have now expanded the race village which requires a ticket, and have reduced the free-to-view areas from the 2015 layout. Now commentary or big screens showing all of the action will only be available when buying a ticket, thus preventing people in the free areas to properly view the racing. Full report.