At a briefing at the Cruise Ship Terminal on Pier 27 in San Francisco on Tuesday, May 14, Golden Gate YC vice commodore and Oracle Team USA director of external affairs Tom Ehman announced: “The America’s Cup remains on track and racing will take place this summer.”
The panel to investigate the tragic death of Andrew “Bart” Simpson and the Artemis capsize on May 9 was announced. It includes: Iain Murray and Sally Lindsay Honey (co-chairs), ACEA race committee chair John Craig, multihull design Vincent Lauriot-Prevost, New Zealand lawyer and sailor Jim Farmer, and Chuck Hawley, who’s been a part of many panels involving yacht racing tragedies. Lt. Jon Lane, with 26 years in the Coast Guard and 10 years experience as a marine casualty investigator will serve as liaison.
With regard to the Review, Ehman added: “The Committee brings immense experience and expertise to this Review. At a meeting in San Francisco this morning, the teams expressed unanimous support for this Committee and this process.”
On May 16, the Review Committee recommended all teams suspend AC72 and AC45 sailing until sometime during the week of May 19.
On May 17, the Review Committee met with the teams. As Luna Rossa had sailed its AC72 since the committee recommended suspending sailing, the press release noted, “We appreciate the vote of confidence Mr. Bertelli, president of Luna Rossa Challenge, gave to the America’s Cup continuing as planned this summer on San Francisco Bay, during his press conference this afternoon in Alameda. We are pleased that Luna Rossa has already submitted its suggestions to the Review Committee. We are, however, disappointed that Luna Rossa indicated that it might not follow the Review Committee’s recommendation issued last evening that teams not sail in San Francisco before May 23rd (to allow the Committee time to make further recommendations).”
FOR MORE: Click here to read Regatta Director Iain Murray’s Safety Recommendations to the teams on May 22.
