AC36: James Bond-esque security at RNZYS for the America's Cup; now properly displayed pouring t

AUCKLAND, NZL – Like a scene out of James Bond, minus the martinis, the America's Cup is being secured by sensors, alarms, cameras and cordons at its new home. Look but don't touch will be the motto for members of the public expected to turn out in their droves to see the Auld Mug on display at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) in Westhaven, Auckland. RNZYS general manager Hayden Porter was tight-lipped about specifics of the security details but said the state-of-the-art system was "much more advanced" than when the club last held the cup between 1995 and 2003. "We are taking the role of custodian much more seriously," he said. "It's the oldest sporting trophy in the world so that comes with quite a bit of responsibility to ensure that it continues its reign for many years to come. –Ophelia Buckleton, writing in today's New Zealand Herald. Full story, including a nice video interview with Mr Porter.

After last week's national victory tour, the oldest trophy in international sports is back on display at the RNZYS, including to the public by appointment. The security is said to be much improved since 1997 when a "Maori activist Benjamin Nathan walked into RNZYS and took to the sailing trophy with a sledgehammer" to quote the NZH story. Your Ed. had originally typed, "...when some nutcase walked into the RNZYS...."

Your Ed. is pleased to note that RNZYS now has the Cup properly displayed (photo above), pouring to the right. When the Cup arrived from Bermuda, the Squadron had it backwards....

When RNZYS returned from Bermuda with the Cup, it was initially displayed backwards – pouring to the left. But after being alerted by your Ed., RNZYS now has it correct (top photo from today's New Zealand Herald).

By the way, the croutonic AC35 logo also was backwards. One assumes that was not done on purpose – but with ACEA you never know. A lot about AC35 was bass-ackwards, starting with running it at a venue outside the USA.

Photo below is what the Cup looked like when Mr Nathan got done with it in 1997. RNZYS sent it back to Garrard's of London, the company in London that crafted the Cup for the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1848, to have it restored.

1997 photo of the damaged America's Cup with John Heise, who was then Commodore of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Photo: AFP via Radio New Zealand.