America's Cup: Arbitration Panel confirms cancellation of ACWS Sardinia
by Sail-World.com/nz 18 Mar 14:08 PDT
23-26 April 2020
AC75's racing in the America's Cup World Series - Cagliari, Sardinia © America's Cup Media
The Arbitration Panel for the 36th America's Cup has confirmed in its ruling that the first event in the 36th America's Cup - America's Cup World Series Sardenga - Cagliari is cancelled.
The ruling follows an application lodged by Challenger American Magic, New York Yacht Club, on March 5 seeking exemption from competing at America's Cup World Series event and the associated penalties for not doing so under the Protocol. They also sought the refund of their US$300,000 Entry Fee.
The America's Cup World Series Portsmouth is still proceeding, subject to UK government regulations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The official statement reads:
Following the submission to the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel by the New York Yacht Club / American Magic regarding its participation in the ACWS Sardegna – Cagliari and the subsequent responses of COR 36, the Defender and INEOS Team UK, the Panel published today its decision, summarised as follows.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures imposed by various governments the Panel has decided that it has become objectively impossible to hold the ACWS Sardegna – Cagliari event from the 23rd to the 26th of April 2020 and has cancelled the event, relieving the competitors and the organizers from their obligations arising out from the Protocol.
The Panel has also decided that it does not have the power to postpone the ACWS Sardegna – Cagliari, to impose the organization of additional ACWS events or to rule that any sailing blackouts not provided for in the Protocol should occur, since it does not have the power to change the Protocol.
A postponement of the ACWS Sardegna - Cagliari could therefore only be achieved with the mutual agreement of the Challenger of Record and the Defender. As the Defender was not prepared to agree to a change of date of the ACWS Sardinia-Cagliari, the event is now definitely cancelled.
The full Decision can be read by clicking here