Emirates Team NZ update - San Francisco media conference

Emirates Team New Zealand update - San Francisco media conference

America’s Cup organisers confirmed today that the America’s Cup would go ahead as planned.

Regatta director Iain Murray and Tom Ehman, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, made the announcement after a meeting of the four teams this morning.

Today’s meeting followed the incident last week in which the Artemis AC72 capsized and broke up, killing crewman Andrew Simpson.

Organisers also announced an expert panel will be formed, chaired by Iain Murray, charged with reviewing the incident last week and the training and racing of AC72 yachts in the 2013 America’s Cup.

Chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge represented Emirates Team New Zealand at the meeting, which lasted for 90 minutes.

Artemis was represented by Paul Cayard, Oracle Team USA’s representation included Russell Coutts and James Spithill and Luna Rossa by Max Serena and Luis Sainz.

Kevin Shoebridge said: "This is just the start of the process. It is the intention of the review panel to look at every aspect of the regatta and particularly the safety aspects. The panel will make recommendations after a thorough process has been completed, including discussions with all competing teams and organisers.

Members of the committee have backgrounds in the sailing at its highest levels as well as involvement in reviews where an incident at sea has claimed the life of a competitor.

Other members are: Sally Lindsay Honey (USA, deputy chair), John Craig (USA), Chuck Hawley (USA), Vincent Lauriot-Prévost (FRA), Jim Farmer QC (NZL).

Jim Farmer is a director and trustee of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Ehman said: “The Committee brings immense experience and expertise to this Review. At a meeting in San Francisco this morning, the teams expressed unanimous support for this Committee and this process.”

The Review Committee will report as soon as possible, given that racing starts in seven weeks. The results are expected within two weeks.

Racing starts at San Francisco in early July when the challengers compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The winner of the LV Cup goes forward to race Oracle for the America’s Cup in September.

ENDS

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