Sports
AMERICAs CUP-LUNA ROSSA WITHDRAWS FROM THE COMPETITION
BOAT SIZE DISPUTE UNPRECEDENTED
USPA NEWS -
Italy's Luna Rossa sailing team withdrew from the 35th America's Cup Thursday on allegations of "abuse of process" after a bitter dispute over boat sizes produced new rules.
"The result of the vote proposed by the Event Authority with the agreement of the Defender of the 35th America's Cup has overturned, with a majority vote, the America's Cup Class Rule for the boat with which this edition will be held," said the team in a statement, "this happened notwithstanding the fact that such rule had been previously adopted unanimously by the teams and was in force since June 2014."
"Following a careful evaluation of the serious implications of this unprecedented initiative, Team Luna Rossa confirms that it will withdraw from the 35th America's Cup."
"Following a careful evaluation of the serious implications of this unprecedented initiative, Team Luna Rossa confirms that it will withdraw from the 35th America's Cup."
The surprise statement added that "Luna Rossa indeed considers illegitimate the procedure adopted and founded on an evident abuse of process by surreptitious use of procedures to modify the Protocol in order to overturn the Class Rule, which instead requires the unanimity of the teams entered." "This is an attempt to introduce boats that are substantially monotypes and in total contrast with the ultra-centennial tradition of the America's Cup, not to mention a two-month extension period to introduce further modifications to the rules, decided by the majority."
"All of the above contributes to a lack of credibility and uncertain technical grounds for what should instead be the most sophisticated sailing competition in the world." Team Principal Patrizio Bertelli said: "I want to thank the whole team for its hard work during this past year; regretfully this effort has been frustrated by this manoeuvre that is unprecedented in the history of the America's Cup.
"However, in sports, as in life, one cannot always go for compromise; sometimes it is necessary to make decisions that are painful but must be clear, as only these can make everybody aware of the drifts of the system and therefore set the basis for the future: respect of legality and sportsmanship".
"However, in sports, as in life, one cannot always go for compromise; sometimes it is necessary to make decisions that are painful but must be clear, as only these can make everybody aware of the drifts of the system and therefore set the basis for the future: respect of legality and sportsmanship".
Liability for this article lies with the author, who also holds the copyright. Editorial content from USPA may be quoted on other websites as long as the quote comprises no more than 5% of the entire text, is marked as such and the source is named (via hyperlink).
