Off the wire: Case dismissed.
Better to see the contest settled on the water not in the jury room, but this is the America’s Cup after all where sport has always come a very distant second. Three options open really – reverse the result, re-sail race 4 or dismiss the protest.
Let's just step back and look at this. If Alinghi needed to secure the mainsail manually isn't it reasonable to assume they did this because they weren't able to keep it aloft without breaking America's Cup rules. Which also leads to the not too unreasonable thought that the mainsail would've fallen during the race without the illegal securing mechanism/setup they had. If you look at any other mechanised sport, where you gain unfair/illegal advantage via mechanical means you will either be disqualified or worse still thrown out of the sport eg. Formula 1, NASCAR. You do the crime you do the time... Alinghi should have the win stripped - furthermore their whole base and maintenace setup should be investigated to make sure they aren't fleecing all sorts of stuff.
I just feel that winning because you are the BEST feels a lot better than winning by penalties. There is nothing wrong with protesting, I just think that if the outcome says Alinghi did wrong then race four should be re-done. Very dissapointing to see some people would take a win "any way we can"... I always thought New Zealand to be above all that - don't let us get a reputation as underarm bowlers!
It's about time something went our way! NZ's protest against Connor's catarmaran wasn't upheld. And let's not forget when NZ were on the receiving end of a post-match jury decision that ruled in favour of the Il Moro Di Venezia syndicate in the 1992 Louis Veitton Cup challenge. Il Moro complained about Team New Zealand's use of the bowsprit. The decision was controversial, and the Italians went on to win the challengers series. Let's hope the race is awarded to NZ.
if you could clip your sail to the top of the mast then you could save a heap of weight in rigging...good on them but i hope it dosnt overshadow a great 4 races!
If Team NZ had won race four and then broken the saftey rules Alinghy would be insisinting that the rules be enforced. If you cant comply with the rules get out of the competition. Alingy should pay whatever consequences that arise from their technical error. They would do the same to us if we had run foul of the rules.
If the boot was on the other foot the Swiss would do it to us. Go for it Team NZ,looks like Butterworths panties are in a twist anyway.
the rules are the rules are the rules. In any sport, break them and you lose.ie, Golf where players call a penalty shot on themselves because they thought the ball had moved while addressing it!, for instance. If they even sniffed at a breach, inadvertently they MUST lose the race. To not do so is cheating!