Louis Vuitton Cup Report 01/04/00
Four Challengers Invoke Postponement Rule For The First Time
January 3, 2000
Louis Vuitton Press Release no. 62 4 January 2000
Faced with ugly weather conditions on the Hauraki Gulf today four challengers for the Louis Vuitton Cup requested postponement of their scheduled matches to another day. The Race Committee agreed and initially granted requests from San Francisco’s America True and Japan’s Asura. Later France’s Le Défi and San Diego’s Stars & Stripes requested and received postponements.
It was the first time that challengers have requested action under Rule 14.4 (d) of the Notice of Race for the Louis Vuitton Cup, which permits postponement upon unanimous agreement between the Race Committee and the representatives of the competing boats.
Italy’s Luna Rossa and San Francisco’s AmericaOne elected to remain on the racecourse as the Committee continued to extend its postponement of today’s start. Rain squalls blasted across the Hauraki Gulf with winds, over 30 knots at times, driving the seas into confused white water. The committee eventually abandoned racing for the day at 1455 hours.
Today’s races will now be sailed tomorrow.
The Notice of Race requires the Race Committee to postpone starts if the wind blows over 18 knots for five consecutive minutes. The Committee typically postpones for half-hour periods. The Committee has until 1510 hours each day to start all races.
Today America True’s helmsman John Cutler agreed with an initial Race Committee decision to delay the start of racing, adding he did not think conditions would moderate. Soon after, Asura’s skipper Peter Gilmour advised the Committee that he agreed with Cutler, and requested a postponement of their match. Much later Le Défi and Stars & Stripes requested and received postponements.
For more information, visit the Louis Vuitton Cup website at www.louisvuittoncup.com or contact Bruno Troublé, Marcus Hutchinson or Keith Taylor on (+64 9) 359 1200.
About AmericaOne
AmericaOne is one of the leading challengers for America's Cup 2000. The team is currently competing in Auckland, New Zealand for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the right to challenge New Zealand for the America's Cup in February 2000. AmericaOne has built two boats based on four years of technology development and innovation. The top level technology partners are Hewlett-Packard Company, Telcordia Technologies/SAIC, Ford Motor Company/Visteon and United Technologies Corp. AmericaOne represents San Francisco's St. Francis Yacht Club. To learn more about the team visit: www.americaone.org.
For further information on AmericaOne, please contact:
Gina von Esmarch E-mail: gvonesmarch@americaone.org / Phone: + 64 9 359 9246 x. 112/Fax: + 64 9 359 9262 Jennifer McHugh E-mail: jmchugh@americaone.org/Phone: + 64 9 359 9246 x. 111/Fax: + 64 9 359 9262
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