Dear Sir,

Cup Match 2017 — what a disaster. As a black Bermudian and a One Bermuda Alliance supporter, hats off to Michael Dunkley and his role in the 2017 America’s Cup, as there is absolutely no comparison between the two events.

First of all, to get into Cup Match, it was $10 for a senior and then if you shared a spot you had to pay $200 per day.

The grounds were tacky, the spots were messy. With the heavy rain on the first day of the match, the coverings leaked, so everyone got wet. When I visited my family in the public section on the west side of the field, there was no covering at all and when the rain came, we all had to run for shelter — absolutely not acceptable for Cup Match. As Bermuda’s premier sporting event, Cup Match should be a moment of pride for Bermuda and Bermudians alike. We need to be showing off our nation at its best, but this year Cup Match was far from our best.

What happened to Bermuda for Bermudians?

Another area of concern was the lack of bathrooms in the clubhouse — three in all, with hundreds of spectators waiting to use them. And, at the end of the day, the gates were half-closed with hundreds of people jammed together to exit the grounds with pickpocketing and stabbing reported. Who needed that?

At the America’s Cup, after you paid your $10 entry fee, seating was free. The entire venue was a delight, clean, orderly and the bathrooms were spotless — and there were plenty of them.

Cup Match organisers take note. Bermuda for Bermudians.

WINIFRED SMITH

Pembroke