AmericaOne Foundation has released a statement in response to US Sailing’s lawsuit alleging harmful practices, describing the accusations as “unfathomable”.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, three high-profile departures from US Sailing last year — Paul Cayard, Bill Ruh and Jose Leandro Spina — were named in the lawsuit by the governing body for sailing in the United States.
The body’s complaint alleges actions that have “harmed athletes, the US Sailing Team, and US Sailing’s business and reputation with donors, sponsors, competitive sailors, and the larger sailing community and Olympic movement”.
However, AmericaOne’s response outlines what it says are the reasons behind Cayard’s and Ruh’s departures — and claims that any damage incurred by US Sailing by the withdrawal of donors and sponsors are of its own doing.
“Because donors contribute based on trust and confidence, when this team [of Cayard, Ruh and the coaching staff] resigned, it was no surprise that many donors withdrew their support and commitments,” it says.
The full statement is available on the America One Racing website HERE.