An international jury Thursday ruled in favor of Team New Zealand and Italy’s Luna Rossa that America’s Cup regatta director Iain Murray lacked the authority to demand changes to rudder design.
Murray had made wider, heavier rudder wings part of the package of safety rules he issued in May, a fortnight after British sailor Andrew Simpson was killed when the AC72 catamaran of Swedish team Artemis Racing capsized in training on San Francisco Bay.
The change was among 37 safety recommendations made by Murray, but the “Ruddergate” protest was spawned when Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa argued that such a change was a performance rather than a safety issue, and gave an unfair advantage to defending America’s Cup champions Oracle Team USA.
The five-person jury, appointed by the International Sailing Federation, agreed with the teams that Murray exceeded his authority in calling for what amounted to a change in the class rules governing design of America’s Cup catamarans.
Both syndicates had argued that class rules can only be changed with the unanimous consent of all teams, and the jury agreed.
Murray had said last week that if the jury upheld the protests he would inform the US Coast Guard, which must issue a permit for the regatta, that he didn’t think racing would be safe.
The wrangling has further marred the 34th edition of the venerable competition, already under a cloud after Simpson’s death.
The accident in which he died destroyed Artemis Racing’s first AC72, and the Swedish team isn’t expected to be ready to race until the second round of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the series of races that will produce a challenger to take on Oracle in the America’s Cup finals in September.
The jury ruling is yet another blow for Artemis, who have designed their new boat to meet Murray’s revised rudder rules and have said they won’t be able to modify it.
However, Team New Zealand said in a statement Thursday they proposed that when Artemis is ready they receive a “dispensation” that would allow them to race. Such a move would have to be approved by all teams.
Jury backs teams in 'Ruddergate' protest
