Ingen straff for Ericsson 4

Rule Management Groups protest mot Ericsson 4 for å ha byttet baugseksjon er ikke tatt til følge av den internasjonale juryen som  mener at et slikt bytte ikke er meldepliktig.

I dagens høring beklaget skipperen på E4, Torben Grael at man ikke hadde informert Rule Management Group om skifte av baugseksjon, men han mente at klassebestemmelsene ikke forutsetter en slik rapportering . Han kom også men en sterekt følelsesladet appell til juryen om å ta hensyn til det sterke presset han var satt under som en følge av denne protesten.

Juryen støttet Graels forklaring som følger:

 "the Rule Management Group's assertion was limited to:

"(a) a claim that Ericsson 4 was required to inform the Race Management Group of the changed bow section,

"(b) the rule breached was Volvo Open 70 Rule (Version 2) 3.1 and no other rule,

"(c) acceptance by the Rule Management Group that the new bow section was the same as the replaced section, and that the position of the measurement reference point was not an issue.

"On that basis, the Jury finds there was no obligation for Ericsson 4 to inform the Rule Management Group of the change.

"The protest is therefore dismissed.

"The jury endorses Ericsson 4's opinion that it is normal practice for teams to inform the Rule Management Group of any such changes. Not to do so risks breaching other rules.

"During the hearing, the Race Management Group chose not to proceed with the other aspects of the written protest."

Juryen var ledet av Bryan Willis (GBR) med Rut Subniran (THA), Tee San Tan (SIN), Shane Borell (NZL) og David Tillet (AUS) som medlemmer