Oracle boss Larry Ellison received the big call-up yesterday - not to join his team's afterguard but to sail as 17th man in his team's first race against Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton final.
However, it was a move which sparked some confusion. Ellison was a member ofthe team's afterguard in the early stages of the regatta, but once Chris Dickson was reinstated after the first race in round-robin two, the billionaire was sidelined and has not been seen on the boat since.
Now with a place in the America's Cup match at stake, Ellison is back on the boat as 17th man, a viewing position, but with no involvement allowed. However, looking into the rules it is unclear whether Ellison is actually entitled to sit in that position.
Article 41.1 of the America's Cup-class rule states that a person with acknowledged "technical or tactical skill" shall not be allowed as 17th man.
With such a profound background in sailing, one would assume this would rule out Ellison, especially considering he was good enough to be in his team's afterguard for most of the races in round-robin one.
Unsure themselves, Oracle did the honourable thing and checked with Alinghi beforehand to see whether it would be all right for Ellison to sit at the back of the boat.
However, an Alinghi spokesperson had not heard that Oracle had approached his team for their approval.
"Why would they need to seek our approval for a 17th man?" the spokesperson asked innocently.
Because Ellison could be regarded as someone with a lot of sailing knowledge which makes him illegal as a 17th man.
"Oh," the spokesperson laughed.
It seems Ellison as No 17 does not bother the Swiss. Which will no doubt please Ellison, who will more than likely perch in the back of the boat for race two today.
* In the New York Times, yachting correspondent Warren St John wrote that it had been "a long and surely demoralising day" for Oracle.
