AC34: Summer of Racing – Summer of Drama

Published on August 11th, 2013

In typical America’s Cup fashion, recent events on the water had to compete with the events on land. Here’s the rundown…

(August 9, 2013) – When the fleet of AC45s was being prepared for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, it was discovered on July 26 that the three boats maintained by Oracle Team USA had illegally been altered. The change – about 5 pounds of weight inserted into the dolphin striker – had not been approved by the measurement committee as required. The teams that sailed the boats, two by Oracle Team USA and one by Ben Ainslie Racing, have withdrawn from the last four AC World Series regattas.

Oracle Team USA claims the modifications were made by a small number of team members without the knowledge of management or the skippers. It is unclear what happens next. The International Jury is now investigating the violation, as the breach would fall under both the 34th America’s Cup Protocol Rule 60 (Protecting the Reputation of the America’s Cup) and ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing AC Edition Rule 69 (Gross Misconduct). Click here for a report by the SF Chronicle.
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(August 9, 2013) – In the third race of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger Semi-Final series, Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA) resoundingly beat Artemis Racing (SWE) by 1:18. In this best of seven series, the Italians need to win only one more race to advance to the challenger Finals against Emirates Team New Zealand. – Full report
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(August 10, 2013) – Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge booked a match against Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final when it completed a 4-0 sweep of Artemis Racing in the semifinal round of the America’s Cup Challenger Series. The wheels fully fell off the Artemis bus, with a start line foul and boundary penalties undoing their steady improvement in performance. The final delta was 2:11. The Louis Vuitton Cup Final begins next Saturday, Aug. 17, with two races planned. – Full report
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Emirates Team New Zealand is now the Challenger of Record by virtue of Artemis Racing’s elimination. Emirates Team New Zealand now has the right of veto over any last-minute attempts to change the Protocol or the racing rules.
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Editor’s note: A reminder that the Scuttlebutt website is updated daily; the information above is a summary of what had been previously posted at www.sailingscuttlebutt.com