By HELEN TUNNAH
OneWorld's rivals have given up the chance to lodge an immediate protest against the Seattle syndicate under yachting's "fair play" rules after the team was caught breaking America's Cup rules twice.
OneWorld avoided being disqualified for their second admission they had other teams' design secrets, but were punished
on Monday with a hefty fine and the docking of competition points.
Last night the other America's Cup syndicates decided not to take their protests against OneWorld any further, for now, with Team Dennis Conner formally withdrawing a protest to the event's international jury.
The other syndicates could have made submissions on the case, but none did.
OneWorld also had a win on the water yesterday, beating Prada in the first of the challenger's semifinals.
Conner's protest had been lodged alongside complaints to the America's Cup arbitration panel that OneWorld had failed to declare all the design information they had from three other teams, including Team New Zealand and Prada.
OneWorld had admitted earlier this year they had some information, but at the weekend's panel hearing evidence on the new case, they revealed they had broken the rules again.
Designer Ian Mitchell testified that he had retained a backup computer disk from his days working on Team New Zealand's 2000 campaign. It contained substantial design and structural details.
He also said he had a computer with information from Team New Zealand's 1995 campaign.
He said none of the material had ever been used or accessed by OneWorld.
He destroyed the disk last year, about the time former OneWorld operations manager Sean Reeves went public with his claims the Seattle syndicate had acquired Team New Zealand secrets.
OneWorld told the arbitration panel in December an internal audit had been carried out to ensure no one had broken any rules, and in February they listed the design material they should not have had - although they maintained they had broken no rules.
However, neither the disk nor the computer was mentioned, and Mitchell did not reveal in affidavits he swore in February and May the existence of either.
OneWorld said Mitchell told them about the disk only last week, as the panel prepared for a full hearing on Reeves' claims.
The arbitration panel did not agree with OneWorld's February submission, and subsequently penalised them a competition point for breaking the rules, and on Monday handed down an even harsher punishment, by saying Seattle would be docked one point in each of the rounds still to be raced.
The penalty yesterday caused some concerns for regatta organisers, because of the potential for extra races.
The rules state teams advance if they get four wins (in the challenger semifinals) or five wins (in the challenger finals and America's Cup match), which may mean the various series have to be extended if the teams end up tied on points after seven or nine races.
Organisers have now asked the panel to amend its penalty, and instead award a point to OneWorld's opponents. The Seattle syndicate opposes the move.
Two members of the arbitration panel were not due to arrive back in Europe until today, so arrangements for the five members to consider the application, probably by conference call, have not yet been arranged.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By HELEN TUNNAH
OneWorld's rivals have given up the chance to lodge an immediate protest against the Seattle syndicate under yachting's "fair play" rules after the team was caught breaking America's Cup rules twice.
OneWorld avoided being disqualified for their second admission they had other teams' design secrets, but were punished
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.