The Swiss Société Nautique
de Genève, whose Alinghi Team won the America’s Cup
two days ago, and its Challenger of Record, the Golden
Gate Yacht Club represented by the Oracle BMW Racing
Team, released details of the Protocol for the next
America’s Cup on Tuesday evening in Auckland.
No details were given on the date of the next event,
or the venue, apart from the provision that the America’s
Cup will be contested on European waters. Full details
for dates and venue will be specified on or before
15th December, 2003.
The XXXIInd Cup Protocol envisions major changes to
the way the America’s Cup is organised, with notable
differences in the Format of the Regatta, nationality
requirements, technology transfer restrictions, the
Jury and the organising authority.
Among the things that stay the same are the class
of boat to be used, the windward-leeward race course
and the provision that teams cannot name their boat
in a way that constitutes advertising, One of the
more crowd pleasing changes is sure to be concerning
the ‘unveiling’ rule. All teams must unveil their
boats before the start of racing.
The regatta format will include pre-regattas beginning
as early as the summer of 2003, and include fleet
races involving the Defender before the America’s
Cup proper. These races will have minimal impact on
the later regatta, but will count to a small extent.
The Protocol envisions the America’s Cup beginning
with a fleet race to determine (along with the results
of previous regattas) seeding for a Round Robin elimination
series.
At least the top eight Challengers will survive the
Round Robins and advance through to a knock-out series
to select the eventual Challenger. The America’s Cup
Match will continue to be a best of nine series.
Nationality and residency requirements for personnel
have been completely dropped from the Protocol. But
individuals once aligned with one syndicate may not
work for another syndicate.
The rules governing the transfer of technology have
also been relaxed. Teams will be able to purchase
old design information up until October 2004, and
at any time, design information can be included with
the purchase of an old boat. That being said, newly
generated design information cannot be shared across
teams.
Perhaps the largest change is in the structure of
the organising authority that runs the America’s Cup.
For the first time, there will be just one body responsible
for both the Challenger selection series and the America’s
Cup.
The Protocol envisions the Defender, the Société Nautique
de Genève will establish an Event Authority, charged
with managing all the funds raised through sponsorship,
media rights, merchandising etc.
After a 10 per cent management fee, this money will
be used to run the regatta. Any surplus revenue will
be split between the Defender, and all of the Challengers.
The Challenger of Record and the Defender will appoint
a Jury and a Regatta Director. The latter, responsible
for on-the-water activities, will appoint a race committee,
a Chief Umpire, and, in collaboration with the chief
measurer, a measurement committee.
The Jury will arbitrate all disputes except those
that are measurement related. There will be no Arbitration
Panel.
Reaction to this protocol is initially favourable
amongst the Cup community. |
