OneWorld Penalized By Panel
The America’s Cup Arbitration Panel (ACAP) has docked the Seattle Yacht Club’s OneWorld Challenge one point in each remaining series it sails in the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup. In addition it has been ordered to pay costs to the Panel of US$65000
In its decision, the Panel “determines that OneWorld Challenge has been in breach of the Protocol in that a designer employed by OneWorld Challenge had in his possession a computer file, a ZIP disk and a computer that contained design information that was the property of Team New Zealand, facts that were not disclosed in the previous application ACAP 01/08.”
All of the other grounds brought up at the hearing were dismissed.
Specifically, the Panel imposes that OneWorld will “lose one point in:
a) the semi-final of the Louis Vuitton Cup and, if it advances,
b) the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup and, if it advances,
c) the Match for the America’s Cup”
If OneWorld pays the costs as ordered, and assumes the one point penalty when applicable, OneWorld will be eligible to sign the declaration and sail in the Americas Cup as the Challenger should OneWorld win all their matches.
The penalty is a point deducted from OneWorld, and not a point given to its opponent. For example, in its Semi-Final match against Prada, the Italian team still must win four races to advance to the Repechage. OneWorld would need to win five races to advance.
Statement of OneWorld on ACAP Decision
We respectfully submit that the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel has respectfully leveled an extremely harsh judgment against OneWorld in response to the team’s own voluntary disclosure. This is a stunning indictment of honesty to be penalized for telling the truth. The Panel found in our favor and completely dismissed the accusations of Team Dennis Connor and Prada in their application.
From the outset, OneWorld Challenge has had as a clear goal of running a clean campaign. Substantially all of the evidence that was brought before the Americas Cup Arbitration Panel was admissions by OneWorld, not the petitioners. We were gentlemen, above board and forthright.
The worst that should be said of us, beyond the fact that we hired a man who turned out to be crooked and gave bad advice, is that we have a designer who told us of an old back-up disk and a seven year old computer in his garage that he never used and OneWorld never knew he had. These are issues that never would have come up had we not raised them. Reeves didnt bring them up, and neither did Team Dennis Connor nor Prada. All of their claims were rejected.
We have decided to proceed through the racing and hold our heads high, knowing in our hearts that we assembled, with the exception of Reeves, a fantastic team of good, talented people who came together to win with a higher purpose. They strive for excellence in everything they do. We stand beside them proudly while others, most of whom are not without guilt themselves, cast the stones. We thank our family and friends who have continued to support us. Now we will continue to go about doing what we came here to do, win races and surmount the obstacles put before us.
