Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px TOP

America's Cup- Points, expulsions and fines in Jury Decision

by Richard Gladwell on 4 Sep 2013
Oracle Team USA has been hit moderately hard in the decision of the International Jury - America’s Cup 2013 Chuck Lantz http://www.ChuckLantz.com

Several members of Oracle Team USA have been excluded for various periods of time, substantial fines have been levied on the team and the team deducted two points in the forthcoming America's Cup Regatta.

Well, they aren't actually deducted two wins, Oracle Team USA, just don't get the points for their first two wins, in the Match.

The International Jury has exonerated Team principals, specifically Grant Simmer and Russell Coutts, and it was their actions once they became aware of the measurement issues that carried a mitigation factor, without which the penalties would have been more substantial.

Six sailors were identified by the International Jury and five of those have been named in the Decision. The sixth identified as Sailor X had his case dismissed after the Jury determined that he was not at a particular impromptu meeting where the discussion was held about adding weight to the kingpost of the AC45's.

A long six weeks
The Decision brings to a close what should have been a minor measurement incident that has escalated into the most serious form of disciplinary Hearing in the sport.

It relates to the finding on July 26, that a builder supplied part, a kingpost, of three AC45's managed by America's Cup Defenders Oracle Team USA, had been tampered with, by having additional weight added to them.

The kingposts, also known as dolphin strikers, are struts that are located under the wingsail and sprit, through which support rigging is run and tensioned to spread structural loads in the AC45's and indeed most multihulls. The AC45's have two kingposts.

The weight discrepancy was discovered by boatbuilders working for America's Cup Regatta Management (ACRM), not members of Oracle Team USA.

The amount of additional weight added was miniscule, and it is equally hard to understand why it would be located outside of the prescribed corrector weight area, however the point is that it was a breach of the Class Rules for the AC45 - which is a one design manufacturer supplied class.

A second report from the Measurement Committee highlighted the fact that the length and end fittings on some of the kingposts used in the Oracle Team USA 45's were of a different length and internal construction than the factory supplied kingposts. And further that while other kingposts had been removed and repaired by other teams they were all identical to the factory supplied items. While two of those from the Oracle boats had a measurable variance.

This issue should have been a relatively simple matter of the team identifying the people involved, the circumstances, and providing the Measurer with a full explanation - all within 24 hours. Had they done so, they could maybe have avoided the ignominy of withdrawing from the last four events of the America's Cup World Series, of which Oracle Team USA had won three and finished second in the other, together with the two Hearings.

Two members of Oracle Team USA were found to have not told the truth to the international Jury, and the Chairman of the Measurement Committee told the Jury in response to questions about the reliance on the level of trust by the Measurement Committee on competitors and finding that this trust had been vetrayed by members of Oracel Team USA, Nick Nicholson said ' I felt old, and used, and stupid'.

Five measurement breaches

All told, five incidents of measurement irregularities were identified by the Jury and these were all found to have been deliberate actions of tampering with a measured boat, putting it out of class.

The members of the Oracle Team USA sailing and shore crew named by the International jury are Bryce Ruthenberg (AUS), Andrew Walker (NZL), Kyle Langford (AUS), Matt Mitchell (NZL) and Dirk de Ridder (NED).

In the cases of the two Australians the Jury excluded ,b>Bryce Ruthenberg (AUS) a member of the OTUSA shore team is excluded for the remainder of the 34th America's Cup Regatta. He will be reported to his national authority under International Sailing Federation Racing Rule 69.1, but with a recommendation that no action be taken because of his 'full, frank and early admissions'.

Similarly with his countryman, Kyle Langford (AUS), a wing trimmer on board Oracle Team USA who for similar reasons together with his age and inexperience in the America's Cup environment was given a warning, which means he can continue to sail, if selected, and no report is to be made to Yachting Australia. However in an earlier section of its Decision the Jury noted that they were 'comfortably satisfied that his conduct was a gross breach of a rule and good sportsmanship.'

Two New Zealanders will be reported to their National Authority, Yachting New Zealand, which will establish a panel to receive the report, run its own investigation, and make recommendations on penalty and reporting to the national body and the International sailing federation who run a similar process and may then impose world-wide suspensions from the sport. While these normally cover exclusion from sailing events, it does not deprive the sailors of their ability to earn a living outside sail racing.

Matt Mitchell (NZL) a member of the OTUSA sailing crew, is excluded for four races of the 34th America's Cup, and will be reported to Yachting New Zealand, but with a recommendation that no further action be taken. No reason is given for the recommendation. However in an earlier section of its Decision the Jury noted that they were 'comfortably satisfied that his conduct was a gross breach of a rule and good sportsmanship.'

A second New Zealander, Andrew Walker a member of the OTUSA shore crew has been excluded from the 34th America's Cup and will be reported to Yachting New Zealand. No recommendation will be made in his case, and it can be expected that further sanctions may be applied to him after a YNZ Hearing. In an earlier section of its Decision the Jury noted that they were 'comfortably satisfied that his conduct was a gross breach of a rule and good sportsmanship, and this was compounded by not telling the truth during the hearing.'

Oracle Team USA's wingsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder (NED) is excluded from the 34th America's Cup, and will be reported to the Dutch National Authority. Again there is no recommendation for leniency from the Jury. In an earlier section of its Decision the Jury noted that they were 'comfortably satisfied that his conduct was a gross breach of a rule and good sportsmanship.' The Jury were also comfortably satisfied that de Ridder gave instruction to add weight to the forward kingpost,; and that he knew the weight had been added; that it was a breach of the AC45 Class Rule; and that 'he did not tell the truth to the hearing in this regard.'

Fine to Charity
Of the financial penalty levied on Oracle Team USA, half will be paid to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and the other half to a charity for at-risk youth in the San Francisco area.

The team will be penalized by one point for each of the two races of the Match in which they would otherwise score a point, meaning that they don’t start with a minus points score, but if they win races, they will not receive points for their first two wins.

The match for the 34th America's Cup starts on September 7, when the Defender Oracle Team USA meets the Challenger Emirates Team NZ, sailing in AC72 catamarans.

The full decision can be read by clicking here and by clicking here
Sea Sure 2025C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOMV-DRY-X

Related Articles

WASZP Games 2025 overall
Perfect conditions for the final day showdown The final day of the WASZP Games 2025 delivered everything you could want in a championship showdown—tight racing, pressure starts, tactical battles, and decisive performances. With the Gold Fleet behind on their race schedule, the priority was clear.
Posted today at 5:04 am
Rolex Fastnet: Steady conditions expected
Competitiors are expected to start in a 12-14kt Westerly and assisted by the easterly tide. Predictwind's metrologist Arnaud Monges expects the Rolex Fastnet Race to get underway in a 12-14kts WSW breeze, with a building current from an easterly direction. Using weather routing we have predicted finish times for the Ultims and AC25 yachts.
Posted today at 1:05 am
Rolex Fastnet Race/Admirals' Cup: Big questions
"So far we've under performed as a boat in the Admirals' Cup. We're looking to put that right." The defending Rolex Fastnet champion, Caro (NZL) faces some big questions given their performances to date in the Admirals' Cup. However the Botin 52 has a reputation for scoring strongly in longer offshore racing - will they repeat in 2205?
Posted on 25 Jul
Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race start tomorrow
Coundown to blast off for the 444 yachts entered For the 444 yachts entered in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's centennial Rolex Fastnet Race all eyes remain on the weather going into the last hours before the start tomorrow (Saturday 26 July).
Posted on 25 Jul
Canada's entry into the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race
Team Be Water Positive returns to settle unfinished business Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive will line up this weekend for the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the most iconic offshore races in the world.
Posted on 25 Jul
Register now for the Rolex Big Boat Series
Fees will increase by $275 after July 31 Registration fees for the 61st Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club from September 10-14, 2025, will increase by $275 after July 31, 2025.
Posted on 25 Jul
U.S. Launch of Switch One Design Foiling Dinghy
Melges will oversee national sales, support, and class growth Melges is proud to announce the official U.S. launch of the Switch One Design, a cutting-edge foiling dinghy that's redefining accessibility and performance in high-speed sailing.
Posted on 25 Jul
Snipe Women's World Championship day 2
The breeze started to build up earlier in the hot morning temperature As predicted, the temperatures were very hot the morning of the second day and the breeze started to build up earlier than day one. The first race, a windward/leeward course, began at 11 am in 15-17 knots and increasing chop.
Posted on 25 Jul
Independence Cup Preview
Takes place off Burnham Harbor this weekend Dozens of sailors with physical limitations from all over the world will compete this weekend in the Independence Cup race at Burnham Harbor from July 24-27.
Posted on 25 Jul
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Day 7
Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title and 27th overall, while Yentel Caers powers to victory in Men's.
Posted on 25 Jul