The skipper of Luna Rossa on Friday said the Italian team would boycott the America’s Cup race until a jury rules on its protest against a last-minute change to a rudder design rule.
Max Sirena said Luna Rossa will not take to the San Francisco Bay on Sunday for the first scheduled race, against Emirates Team New Zealand, if the international jury is still pondering objections filed by both teams.
“The main reason we are not racing on Sunday is a principle concept; not to accept what is being done,” Sirena said at a press conference with other skippers and regatta director Iain Murray.
“We want to wait to hear the decision of the jury and then we will make our plan on top of that.”
Sirena went on to say that Luna Rossa was at the 34th America’s Cup to race and would likely take part in the event even if the jury doesn’t back his team’s protest in a decision expected to be handed down on Monday.
“If you don’t turn up, you don’t win races and you don’t get points and you don’t win the America’s Cup,” Murray said when asked about the boycott.
Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, scheduled to duel in the first race, contend that Murray exceeded his authority in some of the 37 safety rule proposals in the wake of British sailor Andrew Simpson’s death in May.
“Whether Luna Rossa decides to race or not, we will be out there,” New Zealand team skipper Dean Barker promised.
Italian team to boycott America's Cup opening
