America’s Cup: Sailors join Oracle ‘cheating’ drama

By Paul Lewis, New Zealand Herald
Allegations have now spread to at least two of US syndicate’s crew on water, threatening whole team if proven.

The picture is beginning to firm – it now appears two members of Oracle Team USA’s sailing crew are involved in the cheating allegations disrupting the 34th America’s Cup.

Until now, it had been thought that Oracle members most liable for expulsion from the regatta – or other penalties – were members of the shore crew. But sources close to the America’s Cup action say the inquiry has spread to involve at least two members of Oracle’s sailing crew.

If that is confirmed after the international jury hearings on August 27, it will be a bombshell for this regatta and an unprecedented episode in the copious volumes of Cup history.

The possible involvement of sailing crew also firms up the likelihood that the jury may also punish Oracle as a team – in other words, not just expelling some of the crew but also docking them points or races for the Cup match, starting on September 8.

It is never easy predicting jury hearings but in sailing, as in most sports, details can and do leak out.

Nine Oracle team members are understood to be involved in the first hearing. There may now be more than the initial estimate of one to three members at risk of being thrown out of the regatta. – Read on