Two weeks after the accidental death of Andrew Simpson following a crash involving Artemis Racing, the America's Cup management has published a long list of rule recommendations, which are now to be agreed with the authorities, the organising Golden Gate Yacht Club and the challengers.
At its core are demands for a neutral inspection of all AC72 boats and their wing sails, a significant reduction of the wind limit by ten knots (maximum: 23 knots) and an extension of the safety regulations for the equipment on board the catamarans and on board the escort boats.
The demand for a restricted wind limit, should it actually be applied, is likely to have a particularly drastic impact. The lower limits, above which no race may be started, would drastically change the format just a few weeks before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, for which the challengers have prepared in different ways.
It could penalise individual teams for taking the possibility of strong winds into account when designing their boats and making compromises accordingly - especially the New Zealanders around Grant Dalton. They were already hurting with a view to the Cup final in September, which is on average a calmer month. However, if the limit is now also lowered for the challenger series in July and August, this would possibly be tantamount to devaluing well thought-out designs.
"The proposal exposes the dilemma that the organisers are in," says two-time America's Cup participant Tim Kröger, "they have to react after the fatal accident, but in doing so they change the rules of the game halfway through. This is questionable from a sporting point of view and unfortunately shows how wrong the approach is overall."
The report contains a total of 37 proposed amendments Proposal paper by Iain Murray. The list of mandatory safety equipment for catamarans, their crews and support boats is long. It ranges from fluorescent helmets, self-inflating buoyancy aids and body protectors to an electronic counting system for the number of crew members and oxygen cylinders for each sailor, which are designed to save lives even if they are not activated by the crew themselves. According to the proposals, rescue divers, lifeguards and doctors must be available near the AC72 catamarans at all times and deployable within seconds.
The fact that the proposals were published by the regatta director and not by the appointed working group has to do with the fear of a wave of lawsuits. The members of the working group should be kept free from possible legal claims.
A look at the individual recommendations makes it clear what horror scenarios the experts had in mind when formulating them. They are once again questioning the sense and safety of the new cup format on the extremely fast winged cats.
A further comment from Iain Murray reveals just how much the teams are left to their own devices in their new high-risk sport, despite all the recommendations and rule changes: "None of the recommendations can ever eliminate the risk of injury or death. It is an inherently risky activity and participants must accept full responsibility for all risks involved."
It is not yet clear whether the Artemis Racing and Luna Rossa teams will decide to take part. Both teams have granted themselves a further period of reflection. Only Team New Zealand is not considering pulling out, but is struggling with the new rules. It seems impossible to find a compromise that is fair and fulfils the wishes and requirements of all participants.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
