Team NZ, Luna Rossa protest upheld
Jury ruling should end one-boat racing farce. RAW DATA: Read the decision.
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An international jury has upheld a protest by Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa. The NZ and Italian syndicates had argued regatta director Iain Murray did not have the right to altar race rules to allow design changes without the consent of all teams.
The ruling should allow the first head-to-head races of the America's Cup.
Luna Rosa had been boycotting races pending the outcome of the hearing. Swedish team Artemis Racing has also been a no-show, claiming it can't comply with safety changes. The two syndicates' failure to race meant Team NZ sailed the San Francisco course solo during its first two races this week.
A series of 37 safety changes were ordered in May after the death of Andrew Simpson, a British sailor with Swedish team Artemis Racing.
As boats were recalibrated, Oracle Team USA fitted larger, elevated rudders - a change Team NZ and Luna Rossa said was aimed at boosting performance rather than safety.
Oracle will now have to revert to its previous rudders by the time its America's Cup defence starts in September.
Luna Rossa had been boycotting races while it waited for the outcome of the hearing. The Italian syndicate is now expected to participate.
Artemis - which should have been Team NZ's second opponent - has also failed to show on the water, saying it can't comply with the 37 safety changes.
Team NZ has now asked for a special dispensation to allow the Swedish team to race.
Today's developments should smooth the way for Team NZ's first head-to-head race of the Louis Vuitton challenger series when it faces Luna Rosa on Sunday.
"Should" is the operative word in the legal-happy world of the America's Cup.
"The key is now what happens next," Team NZ manager Grant Dalton said this morning.
"All the teams have publicly said they can comply with the 37 recommendations of the safety review committee within the Class Rule. Let’s hope they now follow through with that."
RAW DATA: Read the decision (PDF)
NBR staff
Fri, 12 Jul 2013
Fri, 12 Jul 2013
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Team NZ, Luna Rossa protest upheld
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