Probe continues in America’s Cup cheating scandal

The New Zealand sailors snagged in Oracle Team USA”s America’s Cup cheating scandal are still under investigation by Yachting New Zealand, while Dutchman Dirk de Ridder has been cleared from further penalty by his national authority.

The International Jury came down hard on Oracle on the eve of the America’s Cup after finding the syndicate guilty of illegally modifying their AC45s used to win two World Series titles, with varying bans for five squad members, a US$250,000 (NZ$304,173) fine and the loss of two competition points.

Two Kiwis were implicated in the drama, with grinder Matt Mitchell banned for the first four races of the cup final against Team New Zealand, though he never featured in the comeback win.

Boatbuilder Andrew Walker was also banned for the entire final – the same punishment dished to de Ridder, the highest-profile casualty given his key role on the boat.

All the guilty parties were subject to further punishment by their national associations and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

Last week the Dutch Watersport Federation announced that their sailing council had decided de Ridder’s absence from the cup final was sufficient punishment, given the “global negative publicity” he had endured.

The jury found de Ridder guilty of a gross breach of a rule, and of good sportsmanship, while adding he wasn’t truthful during the hearing.

Interestingly, in releasing their finding, the Dutch acknowledged they had “limited knowledge of all the evidence used by the America’s Cup jury”.

ISAF could still revisit de Ridder’s case. The speed of the Dutch decision has surprised Yachting New Zealand, which has appointed two commissioners to review the evidence. They will then present to the board which will decide if there is a need for further punishment.

Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie says he is keen to ensure the Kiwi process is fully comprehensive.

“We want to be seen to be fair and it’s important we get as much information as possible,” Abercrombie said.

The commissioners wanted to fully understand the jury’s process and evidence, but confidentiality agreements were complicating some of that.

While the Dutch had taken an “instant” decision, Australia were going through a similar process to New Zealand for their affected Oracle rigger, Bryce Rathenburg.

Abercrombie said Mitchell and Walker had been told what the process involved, including the likelihood of being interviewed.

Walker admitted involvement in additional weight being added to an AC45 at a regatta in Rhode Island in 2012, despite knowing it was against the class rule.

Mitchell was also found guilty of adding illegal weight to an AC45.

The penalties were the harshest in the history of the America’s Cup. While they didn’t involve Oracle’s AC72 used in the match against Team New Zealand, the smaller catamarans still came under the America’s Cup banner.

Oracle considered the punishments “outrageous” at the time and there was always the hint that if they lost the cup to Team New Zealand, the issue could resurface in some form. Now they appear comfortable to let the process run its course.

Source: © Fairfax NZ News