ISAF to release report and action on America's Cup 'mutiny' today

by Richard Gladwell on 28 May 2010
The International Sailing Federation are expected to release the report and findings of the Race Officials Committee at 1200hrs UTC, today, 28 May.

The report is expected to run along similar lines to that http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=67850!published_in_Sail-World_on_27_March_2010, where comment was made on the signing of an agreement between the then Challenger, Golden Gate Yacht Club, and former Defender, Societe Nautique de Geneve, undertaking to drop all legal action between them:

'Not mentioned in the agreement is Report lodged by Principal Race Officer, for the 33rd Match, Harold Bennett, over the actions by some SNG appointed members of the Race Committee who refused to co-operate when Bennett decided to start the second race, against their wishes. That matter is still considered by the International Sailing Federation.

Bennett would not comment on the record to Sail-World, three weeks ago, saying that he had said all that he was going to say and that as far as he was concerned the matter was 'dead and buried'.

'The International Sailing Federation is not expected to take any further action against the individuals involved, none of whom were ISAF certified officials, however the opprobrium which they have brought upon themselves, and their club, will long remain, and is a greater penalty than anything that could be issued by the world body.'

The Swiss point that the rules (specifically RRS90.1) where the race committee (not the Principal Race Officer) is responsible for the conduct of races(as directed by the organising authority), is expected to be amended, to shift that decision point out of the hands of the Race Committee and into the bailiwick of the Race Officer.

Sail-World will carry the full report on its release later today by the ISAF.