The only way to cope with the unbelievable soap opera that is the America s Cup fracas being played out at the moment, is to either go sailing in another class of yacht, or laugh!

So, to relieve some of the pain, here are a few of my recent cartoons that aim to make light of what could easily be very boring! If self-serving people stand up and try to re-arrange the world and in so doing stick their heads up above the fence line, lookout!

If you are interested in brightening up your sailing copy with a light hearted view of the current top sailing story, contact Jim for publication costs and conditions.

Cartoons © Jim Bolland 2007

jim@jimbolland.co.nz

Following Alinghi s successful defence of the America s Cup in April of 2007, the syndicates President, Ernesto Berterelli made it very clear to all the challenging syndicates who may return to Valencia in 2009 for the next Auld Mug regatta, that things would be different. He wasn t kidding. The new protocol found no favour with Larry Ellison, owner of the Oracle challenging syndicate of U.S.A.

Ellison and a bevy of other would be challengers claimed that the new protocol was designed to aid the defender to keep the Cup in Valencia for generations. The statement that the defender would be able to race with the challengers in lead up races had the America s Cup sage s muttering deeply into their gin and tonics and sailing journalists predicting the end of the America s Cup as we know it!

As is the way with the America s Cup, the whole messy business ended up in the New York Supreme Court and Judge Herman Cahn found in favour of Larry Ellison and his challenging club, the Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco. But is it over?

What is needed now I m sure, are cool heads and wise counsel! …………………………………………………………………………………

Cartoons © Jim Bolland 2007.

jim@jimbolland.co.nz