America’s Cup Regatta Director Iain Murray presented 37 safety recommendations including wind limits 10 knots lower for racing and eliminating the guest racers. These recommendations now form part of the safety plan submitted to the US Coast Guard in order to have the Marine Event Permit issued.
Iain presented the recommendations to the four teams on Wednesday 22 May. All teams cooperated with the Safety Review committee. Emirates Team New Zealand has said they support the recommendations, calling them “prudent and reasonable.” Luna Rossa was less enthusiastic, saying they appreciate the efforts of the Review Committee, but they then ignored the committee’s recommendation to suspend AC72 sailing last week. They sailed their AC72 for the first time on San Francisco Bay, sailing comfortably in light winds (3 knots) that increased to 12 knots and foiling.
Photo: Carlo Borlenghi
The recommendations include allowing adjustable stabilizers (incorrectly called “elevators” in the Safety Recommendations). Adjustable stabilizers on the rudders would help prevent pitchpoles – the stabilizers could be adjusted up until the warning signal for a race but not during racing. This would let the crews set up the pitch to match the conditions. Another recommendation is to award the race immediately to a yacht if their competitor capsizes, rather than requiring them to sail over the course. This would allow all effort to be concentrated on the capsized yacht.
Spectators will be affected: lower wind limits could result in delays. Recommended buffer zones could move the racing farther from shore. There will be six fewer race days, since the round robin phase will be reduced to allow more time for maintenance.