Sailing in to trouble
Should we be alarmed that one of Andrew Pindar's two Volvo 60 boats has been seized by the Iranian authorities who say it strayed in to their territorial waters? The incident is a worry for British diplomats as it has occurred at a time of heightened international sensitivity after Iran announced an escalation of its nuclear enrichment programme.
The boat, The Kingdom of Bahrain, in Pindar's distinctive turquoise livery, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is only just over a week since Pindar launched its Sail Bahrain venture designed to promote sail racing in Bahrain in a programme similar to one developed in Oman.
The incident casts a shadow over several initiatives designed to raise the profile of sailing in the Middle East. It will re-enforce the view of Larry Ellison who had opposed a decision by America's Cup holder Alinghi to stage its forthcoming defence in the emirate, Ras al-Khaimah.
Ellison, who heads the BMW Oracle challenge for the 33rd America's Cup, had argued that the venue was too close to a dangerous region, a point that was upheld by a court in the US.
The UK's priority and that of Pindar, now, is to secure the release of the crew. If the boat, as seems the case, had been experiencing problems with its propeller, there would appear to be little justification for impounding either the boat or the crew. But as British diplomats know from bitter experience, nothing is straightforward when dealing with Iran.
Neither is this simply an issue between Britain and Iran. The fact that the boat is officially representing the Kingdom of Bahrain could complicate negotiations or possibly smooth them, depending on the standing of Bahraini/Iranian relations.
The boat, The Kingdom of Bahrain, in Pindar's distinctive turquoise livery, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is only just over a week since Pindar launched its Sail Bahrain venture designed to promote sail racing in Bahrain in a programme similar to one developed in Oman.
The incident casts a shadow over several initiatives designed to raise the profile of sailing in the Middle East. It will re-enforce the view of Larry Ellison who had opposed a decision by America's Cup holder Alinghi to stage its forthcoming defence in the emirate, Ras al-Khaimah.
Ellison, who heads the BMW Oracle challenge for the 33rd America's Cup, had argued that the venue was too close to a dangerous region, a point that was upheld by a court in the US.
The UK's priority and that of Pindar, now, is to secure the release of the crew. If the boat, as seems the case, had been experiencing problems with its propeller, there would appear to be little justification for impounding either the boat or the crew. But as British diplomats know from bitter experience, nothing is straightforward when dealing with Iran.
Neither is this simply an issue between Britain and Iran. The fact that the boat is officially representing the Kingdom of Bahrain could complicate negotiations or possibly smooth them, depending on the standing of Bahraini/Iranian relations.
Labels: Bahrain, Bahrain team Pindar, Iran, Oman
posted by Richard Donkin at
10:01 AM
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