Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

America's Cup- Jury refuses to support Regatta Director on Ruddergate

by Richard Gladwell on 12 Jul 2013
Rudder and elevator - Oracle Team USA - Media Tour July 3, 2013 John Navas

The International Jury have ruled that the Regatta Director did not have the authority to amend Class Rules in the AC72 for the 34th America's Cup.

The decision was predicted from the outset by Sail-World, and is consistent with an earlier case (AC16), also taken by Emirates Team New Zealand which prevented the Measurement Committee introducing rule changes. That decision said that the Measurement Committee could only interpret Class Rules, not alter them by interpreting them in a particular way, which was effectively a class rule change.

In the current case the International Jury upheld the position that one of the regatta notices issued by the Regatta Director 'had the effect of changing a Class Rule'. It was therefore illegal.

As the matter now stands the previous class rules now remain in effect.

The stance taken by the Regatta Director that the change was necessary for safety, and could be incorporated and effected by inclusion in the Event Permit issued by the US Coast Guard was rejected.

It is not clear what will happen from this point. It may be that the matter may be referred to the Teams for approval as required by the AC72 Class Rules, however that will probably fail given that two of the teams oppose the changes.

Emirates Team New Zealand had asked the International Jury to grant a dispensation to allow Artemis Racing to compete, however it is unclear this can be achieved, as the Class Rules provide for the Teams to unanimously make changes, not give dispensations to one Team, but not others.

The International Jury declined to make such a dispensation.

It is not certain as to what the Regatta Director will do in respect of the Event Permit issued by the US Coast Guard, which will require amendment. Earlier he took a very strong stance on the Applications taken to the International Jury saying that if the Jury made the Decision it has just made then he could not go to the US Coast Guard and say that the event was safe, without his changes to the rudder elevators.

That being the case, Murray suggested that as the Regatta may be stopped.

No comment has been made by Murray or the regatta organisers as to their next steps. Bob Fisher will report from San Francisco later in the day.



The Jury Decision is as follows:

186.
Regatta Notice 189 has the effect of changing the Class Rule and is therefore not in accordance with Protocol Article 4.3(k). The Regatta Director is ordered to withdraw RN 189.

187.
The Jury will not make an order under Protocol Article 15.4(b) or (e).

188.
To the extent that the Measurement Committee has acted as if RN189 has amended the Class Rule, the Measurement Committee is ordered to apply the Class Rule as it existed before the issue of RN 189.

189.
The Jury orders the Regatta Director to make the views of all the Competitors known to the CG with regard to the Marine Event Permit if circumstances necessitate a change to any component of the safety plan along with the assessment on how the change affects the overall safety of the event.

The full decision can be read by http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN075.pdf!clicking _here

Boat Books Australia FOOTERSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER

Related Articles

29th Superyacht Cup Palma fleet is ready to go
Crews are now able to size-up the competition in their respective classes The owners, captains and crews of the spectacular array of yachts gathered for the 29th edition of the Superyacht Cup Palma are making their final preparations ahead of the start of racing next Thursday.
Posted today at 3:42 pm
Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever.
Posted today at 6:45 am
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
New Caledonia Groupama Race update
Rushour crew safely back in Noumea after capsize The boat was located and it was identified as capsized. All crew members were accounted for. Crew were transferred in the larger aircraft at Koumac and arrived back at Noumea at about 4pm local time.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
ASBA launches Touring Trophy Series
The new leadership team brings experience, enthusiasm, and strong focus on inclusivity and planning The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA) has announced a dynamic new initiative to enhance participation and connectivity within the sports boat community - the ASBA Touring Trophy series.
Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups.
Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership.
Posted on 16 Jun