The vexed issue of the wind limits for the America’s Cup has blown up big time with defenders Team New Zealand and the challengers at loggerheads and going to arbitration.
Under the Cup’s protocol, the wind range for the America’s Cup match was meant to be signed off by December 20, 2019 but the teams remain significantly apart on the upper limits for the new 75-foot foiling monohulls to be sailed at Auckland 2021.
Emirates Team New Zealand want 24 knots – the same that was in place for the 50-foot foiling catamarans at the last Cup in Bermuda. Their American and European opponents, headed by Challenger of Record Luna Rossa of Italy, want a 20 knots restriction in place.
They plan to use that 20 knots limit for their Prada Cup challenger series. The winner of that meets Team New Zealand in the match for the Auld Mug.
Team New Zealand label that “unrealistic for Auckland conditions” and the issue will now go to the Cup’s Arbitration Panel for mediation, a process that could take as long as three months to settle. If Team New Zealand and the challengers can’t be persuaded to come to terms, the panel will make a ruling.
Source: sailingscuttlebutt
