The Pope anoints the Louis Vuitton World Series

11:28 PM Fri 11 Sep 2009 GMT

'The Louis Vuitton World Series will bring together many of the worlds professional sailing teams in a single ongoing competition' Peter Idoine Click Here to view large photo

Former International Sailing Federation President, Paul Henderson (known throughout the sailing world as 'The Pope') writes giving his thoughts on the Louis Vuitton World Series:

Richard, I have read with interest your reports on the Louis Vuitton World Cup. They are very insightful.

Several years ago Cayard and Coutts met me in Los Angeles and we discussed this same concept and it was a 'no brainer' (as you say).

The only difference is that they came to ISAF at the concept stage but that is a detail but with no sponsor like Louis Vuitton.

With the AC disaster the sport needs it especially with regard to the professional aspects.

Paul Henderson - ISAF &copy

Louis Vuitton is premier sponsor and as such wants a clean competition. ISAF is the World Governing Body that can bring 'Fair Play and Integrity' which sponsors demand. ISAF is an event sanctioner including the Judges and Rules not an event organizer. How much the sailors get paid or the sponsors pay is of no concern to ISAF.

Yes there must be an ISAF fee paid to put back into Sailing to ensure the health of the sport but it is not a fee for services.

I had the same dispute with Sir Peter Blake and Alan Sefton when the America's Cup was in Auckland with the press attacking ISAF.

We called a meeting in Southampton with Defender, Challengers and ISAF present.
The two issues were Judges/Race Officials plus the payment. The Judges' selection was solved with joint involvement of ISAF and the sailors.

The money was solved when I reminded Blake of the Kiwis breaking out the champagne as they crossed the finish line in San Diego and forgetting to take down their spinnaker pole and bending it around the forestay.

ISAF was asking for a fee less than the cost of that pole.

We came to a compromise and Blake, a big raw-boned man, put his arm around my shoulder and we walked out together to have a beer.

ISAF is not an adversary and Louis Vuitton is terrific and the sailors will be the beneficiary.

When is the starting gun? See you there.

regards,

Paul Henderson

by Paul Henderson