Seattle's OneWorld team received a little news yesterday that at least did not make their position any worse.
On Monday, the cup arbitration panel penalised OneWorld by docking them a point in any remaining rounds they participate in, including their semifinal now under way with Italy's Prada.
Then the Challenger of Record
Management, which is running the Louis Vuitton Cup series, suggested to the panel that instead of docking the Seattle-based team a point, they give a point to OneWorld's opponents.
But the panel came back with a direction yesterday declining Corm's suggestion, and saying the penalty would remain as imposed.
OneWorld executive director Bob Ratliffe said the panel's latest decision had been "absolutely right".
While part of Corm's reasons for suggesting the change were concerns at a possible lack of time, another issue the body raised was a rule which says the semifinals shall be a "first-to-win four points series".
Corm said it was concerned that based on that wording, OneWorld could still win the match by winning four points, even though that only left them with a score of three points.
But yesterday Ratliffe discounted the suggestion. "We're not playing games here. We understand how this works. We have to win five races."
Considering the weather forecast over the next few days, however, he thought it was possible that not enough races would be held for either team to reach a winning score by the last day of the semifinals next Tuesday.
If that happens, the rules state the winner is the team with the higher score. A tie has to be broken by a one-race sail-off.
- NZPA
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
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