New Zealand investigation reveals confidential details from America’s Cup cheating scandal

The two New Zealanders involved in the ruckus over boat tampering in the AC45 class prior to the 34th America’s Cup have not had any further action taken against them by Yachting New Zealand.

The two New Zealanders named by the International Jury for the America’s Cup were Andrew Walker and Matt Mitchell. They were subject to an investigation under the auspices of their national body Yachting New Zealand.

The two Commissioners appointed by Yachting New Zealand are quite critical of the way the Hearings in USA were conducted, citing the asking of leading questions and similar; the procedural decisions made by the America’s Cup Jury.

They also question why others identified in the International Jury evidence presented were not also named in their Decision and penalized; specific reference is made to Simon Tienpoint, who the Commissioners say: “We are troubled by the fact that the ACIJ failed to include an allegation of gross misconduct against Simon Tienpoint.” Adding: “We struggle to understand how a senior sailing member of OTUSA who admitted in an interview with ACIJ Jury members filling a kingpost on Boat BAR with resin should not have faced an allegation of serious misconduct under Rule 69 as Bryce Ruthenberg, Andrew Walker, Kyle Langford and Matthew Mitchell did.”

The Commissioners also says it has ‘concerns about OTUSA members who had a part to play in the management and control of boat construction and assembly and were in a position of authority including giving directions to shore crew members….’

In the 27 page decision, several excerpts from the previously confidential transcripts of evidence are quoted. – Sail-World, read on

Click here to read Yachting New Zealand decision.