By HELEN TUNNAH
An urgent meeting of the America's Cup's most important judicial body has been called to try to limit damage caused by bitter accusations that OneWorld used other teams' design secrets.
Team Dennis Conner and Prada have asked the America's Cup Arbitration Panel to throw OneWorld Challenge out of
the event, claiming multiple gross violations of cup rules.
OneWorld have denied they used the secrets of other syndicates, including Team NZ and Prada.
The panel will now hold an urgent meeting next week to hear evidence on the claims. It had not been expected to meet until early next year.
The Herald understands the meeting was fast-tracked because of acute concerns that the reputation of the regatta was being tarnished by the off-the-water legal wrangling.
There is also confusion about the status of the challenger series if OneWorld continue to sail, and eliminate competitors, only to be penalised or disqualified later. That could invalidate earlier results, throwing the event into disarray.
While three of the panel live in New Zealand or Australia, the other two are Europeans. They have agreed to fly here for a two-day hearing beginning on December 7.
The semifinals of the Louis Vuitton challenger series are due to start on December 9. OneWorld are currently 3-0 up over Team Dennis Conner and need just one more win to reach the top-four sail-off.
Accusations against OneWorld began more than a year ago, after the syndicate launched court action against their former operations manager Sean Reeves, who they claimed had tried to sell their confidential design secrets to three other teams.
Reeves, a New Zealander, hit back with his own allegations that it was OneWorld staff who had obtained, and used, other syndicates' information.
OneWorld this year admitted to the panel they had some unimportant material they should not have, but said they never used it. The panel accepted OneWorld's word, but docked them one competition point, saying they had broken cup rules by having the information.
At the time Team New Zealand maintained the data OneWorld had was vital.
OneWorld's rivals are expected to try to get evidence from Reeves, though his usefulness as a witness is limited by a US court order which prevents him speaking out.
The international jury will now not hear a separate protest against OneWorld until after the panel meets.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By HELEN TUNNAH
An urgent meeting of the America's Cup's most important judicial body has been called to try to limit damage caused by bitter accusations that OneWorld used other teams' design secrets.
Team Dennis Conner and Prada have asked the America's Cup Arbitration Panel to throw OneWorld Challenge out of
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