San Francisco-July 31, 2013-Sailing
on the Bay has always been adventurous. The Natives: Ohlone/Costanoans,
and Coast Miwok nations sailed the Bay Area waters long before Sir
Francis Drake entered them. For over a year the foremost yacht-racing
event "America's Cup" has been competing in our Bay Area waters. Teams
include: Italy's Luna Rossa Piranha & Luna Rossa Swordfish, Team
Korea, China Team, England's J.P. Morgan BAR, France's Energy Team,
Sweden's Artemis Racing Red & Artemis Racing White, New Zealand's
Emirates Team and our own Bay Area team representing the U.S., Oracle
Team financed by billionaire Larry Ellison.
One team from
North Carolina, African Diaspora Maritime (A.D.M.) will not be
competing after appealing for entry in the regatta and their application
being denied.
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| African Diaspora Maritime with Charles Kithcart from website:
|
Talking with
Captain Charles Kithcart last year, he explained the North Carolina
African Diaspora Maritime has the right to compete at the highest level
of competition like Oracle and the others.
Kitkcart, who
is an engineer and comes from a sailing family has a rich background in
the sport and is a bona fide historian as well as an excellent sailor.
A few weeks
ago, A.D.M.'s suit against the San Francisco Golden Gate Yacht Club to
compete in the America's Cup was dismissed and with it a chance for the
super African American sailors to shine.
Golden Gate Yacht Club Statement.
This sobering
news also stagnates opportunity for an A.D.M. pavilion which would have
anchored a place for American Africans to generate money during the
cup.
All of the
other teams have pavilions where they promote events, sell caps,
jackets, T-Shirts, memorabilia....You get the picture.
Live nation
one of the leading concert promotion companies has very little to do
with sailing; however they just built a concert hall on the Embarcadero
and is cashing in on America's Cup's tourism spill over. Sting was the
opening act, need I say more.
Just think
how Jackie Robinson, MLB, George Taliaferro, NFL, Charles Henry "Chuck"
Cooper, NBA, Williams sisters & Althea Gibson, USTA, Gabby Douglas,
USGA, have enhanced and broaden sports. Over $1 billion dollars are
coming to the Bay Area during the America's Cup and it is hard to see
where American Africans will be able to profit.
In my next report interviews with A.D.M., America's Cup officials, Mayor Ed. Lee and others will help shed some light.
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http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130711006506/en/Media-VIP-Celebrity-Screening-%E2%80%9C10-DeSean-Jackson
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