AC Rogue Reeves Loser In NZ High Court

Few people in the AC or sailing world will be shedding any tears for Kiwi Sean Reeves.

OneWorld Challenge has won enforcement of the US$1 million award previously handed down against Reeves in an American court. The thirteen-page decision of Master H Sargisson (no joke, although "Master" is his title not his first name) of the NZ High Court was issued here today.

Reeves has until 23rd May to appeal, but already owes interest and court costs on top of the $1 million, and it will continue to add up if he does appeal. NZ legal experts previously contacted by SA gave Reeves low odds on winning this latest round, and they say his chances are even lower on appeal.

Reeves is widely considered to be one of the biggest jerks in the history of the America's Cup. First, he allegedly (our lawyers make us use that word) took Team New Zealand design plans with him to OneWorld. Next, allegedly, he told OW team members whom he had recruited from other 2000 AC teams to bring and share design information from their previous teams despite AC rules to the contrary. Then, allegedly, as OneWorld general manager he managed to piss away more than half the campaign budget in the first year of the three-year campaign, mostly by paying exorbitant salaries to himself ($500,000/year) and other team members. With OW money running out mid-campaign he left the team and took a US$600,000 settlement that kept his nondisclosure agreement intact. But that did not stop him, allegedly, from taking OneWorld design plans with him and trying to sell them to three other 2003 AC teams, all of which did the honorable thing and declined. In fact, Oracle called OneWorld and blew the whistle on him. Reeves almost makes the Earl of Dunraven's antics pale by comparison.

In 1895, the Earl of Dunraven's challenger, Valkyrie III, apparently won the second race of the series, but was disqualified. After deliberately defaulting to lose the third and final race, and his chance at the cup, Dunraven charged that the American boat, Defender, had been illegally ballasted. His protest was quickly disallowed and Dunraven continued to complain so vociferously that he was stripped of his honorary NYYC membership. Largely as a result of that controversy, England didn't challenge again until 1934.
As always, SA will keep our readers informed of further developments in Reeves-gate. If someone will send us today's court decision, we will post it here.

Reeves is apparently trying to start a new career as a tennis coach. The tennis world can have him. Just don't let Reeves run the NZ Davis Cup team.

04/23/2004