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

America's Cup: New York Yacht Club Challenger irked over Match Condition delay

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 8 Jan 2020 03:13 PST 9 January 2020
NYYC - American Magic - Newport RI © Daniel Forster

New York Yacht Club's skipper for the upcoming series of America's Cup Regattas is unhappy that the deadline for publication of Match Conditions governing the series wasn't met.

In an interview with Bernie Wilson of Associated Press , NYYC American Magic's CEO and Skipper, Terry Hutchinson says: "Our first thought was, well guys, you've had 2 1/2 years to sort this out, why on Earth would you wait until the 11th hour to determine this?"

Hutchinson was referring to the requirement, stated in the Protocol governing the competition for the 36th Match and preliminaries for the almost 170year old trophy, that the Match Conditions had to be published by December 20, 2019.

Three days later it emerged that the teams of the Defender, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (Emirates Team NZ) and Challenger of Record, Circolco della Vela Sicilia (Luna Rossa) had not reached agreement on one point, and the matter had been referred to the America's Cup Arbitration Panel.

"Earlier in the week we reached agreement on all the Match Conditions except for wind limits," Emirates Team New Zealand rules adviser, Russell Green told Sail-World on December 23, 2019. "We proposed the same upper limit as Bermuda - 24kts. The Challenger wanted a lower limit and wanted to be able to sail the Challenger Series in winds under 20kts, which we think is unrealistic for Auckland conditions."

"The Protocol requires the wind limit to be the same for the Challenger Selection Series and the Match," Green told Sail-World.

Hutchinson is also not pleased that the Challengers as a group have been linked with the Italian proposals for the 20 and 22kt wind limit, as reported by other media.

"To be crystal clear, these decisions are between the Challenger of Record and Defender, and we have zero say in it,' Hutchinson told Bernie Wilson a well connected and highly regarded America's Cup correspondent.

"It's a bit of an insult to be tarred with the same brush", Hutchinson continued. "To that point, for the life of me, I don't know what the holdup is. It's pretty simple: Come to an agreement and get on with it."

Emirates Team New Zealand's response to occasional questioning on wind limits for the America's Cup has consistently been that they wished to get a better feel for the capabilities of the AC75 before making their decision on upper and lower wind limits. The first AC75 foiling monohull was only launched in early September 2019. It had been expected the first AC75 would have been sailing six months earlier.

The upper wind limit decision is complicated by the announcement on August 31, 2018, that five course areas would be used for the 36th America's Cup. Previously a single course area only has been designated. Two of the five locations in Auckland were identified as options to be used in adverse weather.

Hutchinson went on to say that the Italian proposal for 20 knots seems "reasonably soft, but again, we just want to be told. Like most of these things, as a Challenger, what we want to avoid is being surprised. Withholding the match conditions is exceptionally disappointing as a competitor. They've had 2 to 2 1/2 years to sort it out. It's consistent with most of the negotiations between Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand."

Just over a week ago Sailing Sardinia published a video of Luna Rossa sailing their AC75 in the Scirocco off Sardinia in winds and sea conditions that were appeared to be well over 20kts.

The New Zealanders resolve to avoid being caught again with an excessively low wind limit (19kts) that prevailed for the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, was underscored over the past week, as competitors in the P class nationals in Tauranga only stopped racing when the wind reached 35kts.

In the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, over a third of the scheduled race days were lost, creating havoc with TV broadcast schedules and commitments.

The other two Challengers, INEOS Team UK and Stars + Stripes Team USA, have not commented.

Related Articles

America's Cup: French give the Brits the "Hurry-up
Frustration builds between Cup factions over lack of progress with Protocol. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples. Posted on 6 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup." Posted on 4 Jul
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Selden 2020 - FOOTERPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMMaritimo M75