Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

America's Cup- Cheating doesn't pay but cheats do

by Bob Fisher on 4 Sep 2013
Oracle Team USA training August 31, 2013, San Francisco John Navas

Oracle will lose the first two races it wins and the team will pay a fine of a quarter of a million US dollars for damaging the reputation of the America’s Cup and five sailors in the team have been named and shamed in the worst case of cheating ever in the event’s 162-year history.

Four of the five sailors are to be reported to their national authorities and to the world body, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for committing gross breaches of the rules and for bad sportsmanship. Excluded from the reporting is Australian Kyle Langford whose testimony was honest, and the Jury did not doubt his integrity. The Jury accepted that it was unlikely that Kyle knew that adding weight to a kingpost was against the AC-45 class rules.

Dirk de Ridder, the first choice wing trimmer for Oracle Team USA, has been banned from all further participation in this America’s Cup. He was found to have given instructions to the members of the shore crew to add lead to the king post of one of the team’s boats knowing it to be in contravention of the rules, and then denied doing so to the Jury. He will also be reported to the Dutch national authority and ISAF.

Matthew Mitchell, a grinder in his fifth AC campaign who is also a rigger, is banned from sailing in the first four races of AC34. He will also be reported to Yachting New Zealand and ISAF.

Others involved are members of the OTUSA shore-crew. Bryce Ruthenberg is excluded from further participation in any way in AC34 and will be reported to the Yachting Australia and ISAF with the recommendation that no further penalties are imposed because of his full, frank and early admissions.

Andrew Walker is excluded from further participation in any way in AC34 – effectively sacked. He too will be reported to Yachting NZ (YNZ) and ISAF. Kyle Langford received a warning, and because of his truthfulness, will not be reported to Yachting Australia.

The International Jury’s findings come only four days before the Saturday’s first two races in the 34th America’s Cup and mark a significant change in the manner in which the competition is seen. Deliberate cheating has been uncovered and the sport does not take kindly to infractions of this nature.
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSea Sure 2025X-Yachts X4.3

Related Articles

A decade of pushing the boundaries at A+T
Celebrating 10 years of the world's best yacht instruments 2025 marks a decade of pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service in the global yachting industry for A+T Instruments.
Posted today at 11:00 am
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Take the Helm
As Co-Owners of the 'BONDS Flying Roos' Australia's SailGP Team Today Australia's three-time SailGP champions have unveiled a new identity as well as two new co-owners - Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds - who join Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby in leading the freshly rebranded BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team.
Posted today at 10:56 am
Should SailGP ditch the wings?
As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question of whether the F50's solid wingsails should be ditched and replaced instead with twin-skin mainsails, in a similar way to what is used on the AC75 and AC40 of the America's Cup.
Posted today at 10:48 am
CYCA and RFBYC announce partnership
To host Australia's premier match racing events The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are pleased to announce a joint partnership between the two Clubs to host Australia's premier match racing events in January each year.
Posted today at 9:55 am
Port Phillip Double-Handed Perpetual Cup
66 sailors on 33 boats take part in one of sailing's more demanding formats Melbourne was at her autumnal best on Sunday the 18th of May delivering ideal conditions for the 2025 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's (ORCV) Double-Handed Yacht Race around Port Phillip.
Posted today at 8:45 am
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 1
Racing in Women's World Match Racing Tour Event 2 underway Perfect conditions graced the opening day of the 2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA, Stage 2 of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour following the tour season opener in San Francisco last week.
Posted today at 5:40 am
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 2
It can be easy to win! For everyone else, it was a day of tense battles Win the start, grab the first shift, consolidate and extend! The winning formula is easy, and those who got ahead took full advantage of an easy course once they got to the front. For everyone else, it was a day of tense battles.
Posted today at 5:14 am
In Memoriam - Darren 'Baz' Williams
The yachting industry was shocked and saddened at the passing of Darren Williams The yachting industry was shocked and saddened at the untimely passing of identity Darren (Baz) Williams at the age of 59 after a year-long battle with cancer. In many ways Baz was a very private person and flew under the radar for many...
Posted on 4 Jun
Torrid 29er Nationals test 30 crews at Manly
Long-time sailing buddies Will Mason and Will Leech dominated the Polished Concrete 29er Nationals. Long-time sailing buddies Will Mason and Will Leech teamed up to dominate the 2025 Polished Concrete NZ 29er Nationals at Manly SC, in challenging conditions, over Kings Birthday weekend.
Posted on 4 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 2
American Magic Quantum Racing extend their lead after challenging light winds day Patience, concentration, risk management and perhaps a highly developed sixth sense of the subtle changes in the light breezes, were among the key assets shared by the crews which did best today, the second racing day.
Posted on 4 Jun