Great
Britain's Bryan Willis joins AC Management (06/09/03)
(source
: Sailing
Anarchy)
Bryan Willis of Great Britian
has been hired by ACM (America's Cup Management --
the newly created, independent organizing authority
for the next America's Cup) as the first ever AC "Regatta
Director."
Willis will be in charge of all aspects of the racing,
drafting of the rules, overseeing the umpires, race
committee, and measurers, and generally ensuring that
the entire event (both the challenger series and AC
match) is fair and even-handed.
In theory this will eliminate much of the "home court
advantage" that past defenders have enjoyed and, to
varying degrees, exploited.
Willis is not new to the Cup scene. He was chairman
of the jury for the last two Cups, and received generally
high marks in that role. His appointment required
the agreement of both Alinghi and Oracle as Challenger
of Record.
ACM will announce Willis's appointment this coming
Thursday when they will also announce the four venue
finalists. (Lisbon and Palma are widely expected to
be among the finalists; with two of Marseille, Naples
and Sardinia rounding out the foursome.)
Willis is expected to begin working on the next Cup
almost immediately. He has a big job ahead of him,
as Alinghi and Oracle have promised via the Protocol
that all rules and regulations governing the next
Cup will be published by December 15, 2003.
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