CC MEMO -- Skype follow-up

CC members asking about Skype -- please see previous posts (search on "Skype" in the search toolbar at the top of this page). Free and fast to download at www.skype.com. The number of people using Skype who are involved with Challengers, indeed the Cup, increases weekly -- not only for the free internet telephone and conference calls but for IM (instant messaging).

If a CC member would like a quick transfer of contacts for Cup personnel I have in my Skype address book, IM me on tomehman. It takes only a minute or so.

Skype addresses that we have for CC members are listed on the CC Directory.

CC MEMO -- ACM Office Move

ACM advised Competitors this evening that as of Monday 31 May most of their staff will have shifted offices to:

Edificio Varadero
Port America's Cup
PO Box 6032
46011 Valencia

except that the Media Center and staff will remain at the:

Antigua Estacion Maritima
Muelle de la Estacion
46024 Valencia

Recent photos of the America's Cup Harbour, including a picture of the ACM office building, were featured in April on the Scuttlebutt website; and, as always, the Valencia Sailing photoblog has excellent coverage of the AC action in and around Valencia as well as recently-posted stories with good links on both Malmö-Skåne and Trapani.



2004 satellite photo of Valencia's "Dársena Interior." In the
meantime it is rapidly transforming into the America's
Cup Harbour. www.keyhole.com.

CC MEETING (26 MAY) -- Media Statement

[Updated 31 May 05 -- The announcement planned for Tuesday, 31 May has had to be postponed to, hopefully, no later than the end of the week as more time is necessary to finalize the paperwork.]

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup ("CC") met at the call of Chairman George Clyde by telephone conference on 26 May. Representatives of all eleven Challengers were present on the call or had given their proxy to the Chairman and pre-voted by email.

Present for the conference representing Challengers were:

- BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) -- Tom Ehman
- Luna Rossa (ITA) -- Bruno Finzi and Luis Saenz
- Mascalzone Latino Team Capitalia (ITA) -- Tom Weaver
- Victory Challenge (SWE) -- Bjorn Ohde
- China Team (CHI) -- Jean-Charles Scale

Chairman Clyde reported that the following teams had responded to the notice of the meeting with pre-votes:

- Desafio Espanol (ESP) -- John Cutler
- Emirates Team NZ (NZL) -- James Farmer
- K-Challenge (FRA) -- Stephane Kandler
- Piu 39 (ITA) -- Paul Henderson
- Team Shosholoza (RSA) -- Salvatore Sarno
- United Internet Team Germany (GER) -- Uwe Sasse

CSS Working Party chairman Tom Ehman then reviewed the "Valencia Plan VI(c)" detailing the 32nd America's Cup Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup, previously circulated. He confirmed that ACM had now stated in writing their willingness to sign the plan. SNG and GGYC have also agreed to sign (the latter pending approval by the CC), thereby consenting to make any necessary Protocol amendments to effect the Plan.

After a brief discussion of the history of the Working Party's negotiations and the merits of the Plan, a resolution to approve the Plan passed with eight of the eleven Challengers voting in favor; three were opposed because of various reservations regarding the Plan.

The Chairman noted that the CC Blog will shortly announce that this historic agreement has been reached. However, he asked that the Challengers keep the terms of the Plan confidential until a joint announcement could be made with ACM early next week [now set for Tuesday 31 May in Valencia ].

Chairman Clyde thanked all for their consideration and responses, and particularly the CSS Working Party of John Cutler, Tom Ehman, Bruno Finzi and Dawn Riley for bringing this difficult matter to a successful conclusion.

The CC will next meet just prior to Act 4 on 12-13 June in Valencia. A meeting to debrief Act 4 will take place at 16:00 on Monday, 27 June also in Valencia.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Act 6 Notice of Race

Today the Regatta Director issued the NOR for Act 6. The document is available here.

CC MEMO -- Paul Henderson Receives Beppe Croce Trophy

Congratulations to CC member Paul Henderson (CAN) who was awarded yacht racing's highest service award, the Beppe Croce Trophy, at the ISAF Midyear Meetings in Stockholm last weekend.

In presenting the award, ISAF President Göran Petersson (SWE) said, "We are here tonight to pay tribute to a truly remarkable sailor; one who has achieved exceptionally for our sport. Being awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy is an honour reserved to a few great names who, with their voluntary commitment and devotion, have contributed in an outstanding way to the growth and evolution of sailing over the years."

Mr Henderson culminated 34 years of work for ISAF and its predecessor, IYRU, in November 2004 when his term as ISAF President ended, a post he held for ten years.

At its May meeting the Challenger Commission welcomed Paul as a new CC member representing +39, and the CC is pleased to have him now devoting time and energy to the America's Cup and Challenger Commission.

The full text of President Petersson's speech is available here.


Göran Petersson (L) presents the
Beppe Croce Trophy to Paul Henderson
last weekend in Stockholm.

CC MEMO -- Teams in the News

A permanent link called Teams in the News has been added to the sidebar under Other Links. It links to a Google News (beta) auto-search on the words "America's Cup team" (configured a bit above and beyond your normal search), and returns a good list of current and recent press reports on Challengers. Try it by clicking on the underlined link-name above.

There are a few other recently-new links under Other Links that you may find more or less useful, such as Valencia Area Map or Weather Radar - Spain.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Act 5 Sailing Instructions

Today the Regatta Director issued the SIs for Act 5. The document is available here.

CC MEMO -- Stormy Weather

For over a year the Challengers have objected to ACM's acceptance of Alinghi's recommendation for ACM to spend Euro 3.5 million on a Met Data Service ("MDS"), of which some Euro 3.0 million would be spent placing 20+ weather buoys in the racing area. The Challengers believe that this large number of weather buoys, and the special layout, will give a significant competitive advantage to Alinghi, is unnecessarily expensive, and will constitute a hazard to navigation.

On 21 February the CC sent a letter to the Valencia Port Authority concerning the hazard to navigation these buoys would present. The Port acknowledged receipt but has not otherwise replied. For the text of the letters, please see this previous post.

The week of 21 March The Daily Sail ran a wide-ranging interview with Tom Ehman, then CC Chairman. An excerpt from that interview concerning MDS also was previously posted.

On 13 April ACM sent to each Competitor the long-overdue final specification and team subscription documents for MDS.

At the 10 May CC meeting, MDS Working Party chairman Luis Saenz (Luna Rossa) presented a report and recommendation (on behalf of the MDS Working Party, which included team meteorologists from most Challengers) in response to the 13th April MDS papers from ACM, and on next steps with regard to the CC’s continuing strong opposition to ACM’s Met Data Service on "Neutral Management" and excessive expense grounds. The report was received with appreciation and approved unanimously. Chairman George Clyde made the recommended communication to ACM, asking for a response by 20 May.

Friday evening 20 May, ACM replied to the Chairman's communication, stating that ACM would continue to implement the MDS program as designed and specced by Alinghi despite the repeated objections of the Challengers and the CC.

Given the ACM response, CC Chairman George Clyde advises that, in accordance with the resolution adopted unanimously at the 10 May CC meeting, an application on behalf of the CC and Challengers will be filed with the Jury this week, formally disputing the matter with ACM.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Regatta Notice #9, ACM Signage on Competitors' Yachts

Today the Regatta Director issued Regatta Notice #9 concerning event signage on Competitors' yachts for the upcoming Acts. The document is available here.

JURY -- Jury and Umpire Websites

Today Jury Chairman and Chief Umpire Bryan Willis sent the Competitors an invitation to visit and use two new websites related to Jury and Umpire services at www.acjury.org and www.acumpires.org, respectively. These sites are warmly welcomed by the Challengers.

We have added permanent links to the sites under the new heading "Official Sites" in the CC Blog sidebar.

JURY -- ACJ-007 (JN015), Yacht Name Approval

On 12 May the Jury issued the following decision in ACJ-007 as Jury Notice 015:

1. On 4th May K-Challenge AC, S.L (“K-Challenge”) as representative of le Cercle de la Voile de Paris submitted to the Jury a request pursuant to Article 10.13 of the Protocol, requesting approval of ‘the yacht name “K-Challenge” for each of its competing America’s Cup Class yachts’.

2. On 6th May the Jury informed Competitors, and others on the Jury Service Address List that it was mindful to grant approval, and invited submissions by 10th May. No submissions were received.

3. The Jury is satisfied that the name ‘K-Challenge’ complies with Article 10 of the Protocol (10.5 ‘A Competitor shall not name its competing yacht with a name that constitutes Advertising.’)

4. Therefore the Jury grants approval of the name ‘K-Challenge’ for both of the competing America’s Cup Class yachts representing le Cercle de la Voile de Paris.

5. The costs of the Jury are fixed at €1,000. Such costs are to be paid to Americas Cup Management, within 30 days.

The jury's decision document is available here.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Regatta Notice #7, Race Areas for Acts 6-9

On 12 May the Regatta Director issued Regatta Notice #7 delineating the Race Areas for Acts 6 and 7 (Malmö-Skåne) and 8 and 9 (Trapani). The full text is available here.

TERMS OF CHALLENGE -- Amendment No. 4

An amendment to Article 24.3, "Third Party Risk Insurance," of the Terms of Challenge has been adopted. The CC supported this amendment at its May meeting. The full text of TOC Amendment No. 4 is available here.

CC MEMO -- Racing Calendar

[Updated Sun 22 May thanks to the good eye of ACM's Peter Rusch -- Act 5 typo fixed, and the host town/area "Malmö-Skåne" spelled out in full. ACM asks that we please use "Malmö-Skåne" in our own p.r. materials whenever possible.]

Challengers and others have asked for a simple, consolidated Racing Calendar -- with dates and details for the balance of the Louis Vuitton Acts, the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the AC Match -- all on one page.

What follows is subject to change upon various levels of approval and agreement. Nonetheless, it is the latest information, and will be updated if and when anything changes.

A permanent link to this post now resides on the sidebar near the top under Schedules. Our thanks to Richard Gladwell (NZL) for the suggestion.

Dates shown below are from the first through last day of racing, inclusive of a Reserve Day, if any, at the end of an Act.


2005 (dates are firm)

Valencia LV Act 4: Thu 16 Jun - Wed 22 Jun / Match

Valencia LV Act 5: Fri 24 Jun - Sun 26 Jun / Fleet

Malmö-Skåne (SWE) LV Act 6: Thu 25 Aug - Wed 31 Aug / Match

Malmö-Skåne (SWE) LV Act 7: Fri 2 Sep - Sun 4 Sep / Fleet

Trapani (Sicily, ITA) LV Act 8: Thu 29 Sep - Wed 5 Oct / Match

Trapani (Sicily, ITA) LV Act 9: Fri 7 Oct - Sun 9 Oct / Fleet


2006 (dates are tentative)

Valencia LV Act 10: Thu 4 May - Mon 15 May / Match

Valencia LV Act 11: Thu 18 May - Sun 21 May / Fleet

Valencia LV Act 12: Thu 15 Jun - Mon 27 Jun / Match


2007 (AC Match dates are firm, others tentative)

Valencia LV Act 13: Tue 3 Apr - Sat 7 Apr / Fleet

LV Cup Challenger Selection Series, rounds robin match racing: Wed 18 Apr - Mon 7 May

LV Cup Challenger Selection Series, semi-final matches: Mon 14 May - Fri 25 May

LV Cup Challenger Selection Series, final match: Fri 1 Jun - Tue 12 Jun

32nd America's Cup Match: Racing begins Sat 23 Jun and continues on Sun 24 Jun, Tue 26 Jun, Wed 27 Jun, Fri 29 Jun, Sat 30 Jun, Sun 1 Jul, Tue 3 Jul, Wed 4 Jul, etc., one race per day, until either the Challenger or Defender has won five matches.

JURY -- ACJ-003, Final Decision

The 21-page final decision in ACJ-003 was issued this afternoon as Jury Notice 016, and is available in full here.

Ruling Summary

[161] The answers to the two questions submitted by El Reto are:

Question (i):

“(i) Is a Competitor permitted to employ a designer who has previously been engaged by a potential challenger, without restriction on what the designer has done for the potential challenger?

Answer:

No. The Competitor is prohibited by Protocol 13.5 from engaging a Designer as defined by 1.1(I) of the protocol, provided that the potential challenger becomes a Competitor. If the potential challenger does not become a Competitor, there is no restriction.

Question (ii):

“Only in the event that the answer to (i) is no:

(ii) Is El Reto able to continue its engagement with Mr Kaiko as designer?

Answer:

No. The Jury is satisfied that while engaged by Mascalzone Latino, Mr Kaiko was a Designer as defined by Protocol 1.1(l) and the Interpretation by the Jury in its decision ACJ001. As a consequence, Protocol article 13.5 prohibits other Competitors from engaging Mr Kaiko.

[162] Total costs awards of €134000 are to be paid by El Reto to ACM with in 30 days of the date of this Decision.

America’s Cup Jury: Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler, Graham McKenzie, Henry Menin, David Tillett, Bryan Willis (chairman)

CC MEMO -- Christening of RSA-83

The first newly-built Version 5 ACC yacht, Team Shosholoza's RSA-83, was christened by Mayor Rita Barbera yesterday on a perfect Spring day in Valencia. The South African Team celebrated the christening with over 800 VIP guests and a large media contingent from around the world. As has come to be the norm, the excellent Valencia Sailing website has some great pictures of Cup activity in and around VLC.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Act 4 Sailing Instructions

The Regatta Director issued today the SIs for Act 4. The document is available here.

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Regatta Notice #8, Competitors Meeting with Meas. Cte. (2 June 05)

The Measurement Committee will hold a meeting with Competitors on 2 June 2005 at 08h30 at the Regatta Operations tent at RCNV. Each Competitor is required to send at least one representative to the meeting who is authorized and prepared to commit that Competitor to a schedule for measurement.

The full text of Regatta Notice #8 issued by the Regatta Director today is available here.

CC MEMO -- Tips for Using the CC Blog

Updated 12 March 2006

Key information like dates and schedules is now posted under the "Kiosk" header near the top of the sidebar.

It is easy to find previous posts (articles) on the CC Blog by using the Google Search Bar at the top of every page of the CC Blog. Just type in the key word or words specific to a topic (e.g., "Skype" or "China Team"), category ("Jury") or anything else for that matter, click on the appropriate radio button to indicate whether you want to search the entire web of just the CCB, then click the SEARCH button.

If you are looking for something from a specific month, click on the Archive button for that month in the sidebar of permanent links. Everything posted that month will appear.

Each of the posts on the CC Blog has its own "permanent link" (a web address specific to that post). Just click on the underlined time of day at the end of each post ("posted by TFE @ 10:20") and you will jump to a web page with just that post on it. The permanent link for that page appears in the address window of your browser, and you can add it to your browser as a favorite, copy and paste it into an email to send to others, or add it as a link from your own website, etc.

Finally, an even quicker way to email a friend or colleague with a link to a specific post is to click on the little envelope at the bottom of that post, and follow the simple instructions that pop up.

MEASUREMENT CTE -- PI 08, Media Equipment Compartment

ACC Rule 20.7 requires the Measurement Committee to issue a Public Interpretation to detail dimensions and a construction specification for a compartment on each Version 5 yacht to house media equipment supplied by ACM. This Public Interpretation was previously issued as PI 04, and is posted here.

PI 04 was to be issued on or before 1 January 2005. However, it was not issued until 14 March 2005 due to circumstances beyond the control of the Measurement Committee.

PI 04 requires the cutting and fitting of a watertight hatch in the cockpit sole of each ACC Yacht, to provide a facility to contain certain television and telemetry equipment supplied by the Organizing Authority. At present, this equipment has been identified as:

(a) TV Broadcast Control Box(es)
(b) Telemetry Equipment Box for animation
(c) Umpire Signal System control unit

The Measurement Committee has been advised that item (a) above will not be required until 2006; however, items (b) and (c) will be used in 2005.

The Measurement Committee and Regatta Director have also been advised that, due to the late issuance of the PI 04, several Competitors have not been able to construct the “broadcast box.”

Therefore, for 2005 the Measurement Committee in consultation with the Regatta Director have relaxed the requirements of PI 04 with the issuance of PI 08, which is available in full here.

CC MEMO -- Updated Directory

The CC Directory has had a major update and is available here for the CC only (posted behind a password to guard against spammers). CC Delegates -- please check it to be sure the latest information for you and your team is accurate. A permanent link to the CC Directory resides at the bottom of the right-side column.

CC MEMO -- 受欢迎的队中国

Welcome China Team!



Artist's rendition from the China Team press kit.


Today in Beijing the 11th and final AC 32 Challenger -- China Team -- announced that they have received confirmation from SNG that their challenge has been accepted. Their press release is available here, and their previously-distributed press kit here.

China Team represents the Qingdao International Yacht Club.

ACM previously announced that China Team had filed challenge documents and fees with the defending club, SNG, prior to the 29th April deadline.

Earlier this week the Challenger Commission met in Valencia. Pending acceptance of the China Team challenge by SNG, China Team representative Jean-Charles Scale was invited by the CC to attend with voice but no vote. Jean-Charles is a veteran Cup team rep and rules advisor, and was a valuable addition to the deliberations.

Yesterday, the PRC flag was flying over the Le Defi temporay base at the Real Club Nautica Valencia, across the parking lot from the Alinghi and BMW ORACLE bases.

The Challenger Commission is very pleased to welcome China Team, the first-ever challenge from the People's Republic of China.

And we congratulate ACM and all others involved in helping to achieve this historic first, including the largest number of nations ever -- counting the Defender, there are 12 teams from 10 countries including challenges from three first-time nations China, Germany and South Africa.



Historic day: Thursday the Chinese flag appeared over an America's Cup
base for the first time in 154 years of racing for the Cup -- the oldest trophy
in international sports.

CC MEMO -- Racing Rules Seminar

The Deed of Gift provides for the Challenger (of Record) and Defender to mutually consent to various rules and conditions, including a set of racing rules or "rules of the road" which govern the maneuvers of the yachts, hence tactics, while racing.

The Racing Rules of Sailing ("RRS") published by the International Sailing Federation ("ISAF") are used for virtually all yacht racing in the world. The notable exception is when yachts venture offshore, in which case international regulations governing all vessels override the RRS.

For AC 32, as in all Cups since at least 1958, the RRS have been adopted nearly in full with certain modifications agreed by the Jury, Regatta Director and Competitors.

The RRS are updated by ISAF every four years following the Olympics. A new edition for 2005-2008 took effect in most parts of the world on 1 January. So this year the teams have to contend with both a new AC Class Rule ("Version 5") and a revised set of racing rules.

While changes to the new edition of the RRS are minor, the subtle differences can win or lose races. Therefore it is critical for the afterguards of each team to understand them before Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 4 commences next month (Acts 4-5 are 16-26 June).

In Valencia Monday evening, the Jury and ACM conducted a seminar to brief all Competitors (Challengers and the Defender) on the new edition of the RRS, and how the umpires intend to apply them for AC racing, especially the subset of the RRS which govern match racing and umpiring.

Each team was invited to send up to 5 representatives, and most did. A meeting of the top sailors in the world, to say nothing of the top match racing and AC sailors, is usually a lively affair. The skippers, tacticians, rules advisors, umpires and other officials discuss and debate the nuances of the right-of-way rules, how and when the umpires should make their "calls", and, indeed, whether any of the rules or interpretations ("Call Book for Match Racing") should be modified for Cup racing.

Changes to the rules and interpretations are not made lightly -- with representatives of almost all of the Cup teams racing in the various non-AC match regattas, including the Swedish Match tour, the AC community, ISAF and umpires strive to keep the rules for all match racing events as identical as possible.

Of particular interest has been how to apply and signal RRS 17 for AC 32. Indeed, some would like to delete the rule. However, others argue that would affect not only racing tactics but design of the yachts. [At the Challenger Commission meetings earlier this week, the CC declined to support the Defender's proposal to delete RRS 17].

The presentations made at Monday's night seminar by AC umpires Brad Dellenbaugh (USA) and John Standley (AUS) are available by clicking on the respective document names below (please note: these are large files, so you may wish to skip them unless you are really into this stuff):

Changes to the RRS

Delete or Modify Rule 17?

Draft AC Umpire Call 11

Draft AC Umpire Call 12

Senior AC Umpires Brad Dellenbaugh and John Standley making last-minute
checks to their presentations Monday night.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- 10-11 May CC Meeting

For Immediate Release
11th May, 2005 - 17:00

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup ("CC") met in Valencia, 10-11 May, hosted in part by Louis Vuitton and the Holiday Inn Valencia. Representatives from all ten official Challengers were present:

- BMW ORACLE (USA) -- Russell Green and Tom Ehman
- Desafio Espanol (ESP) -- John Cutler and Matt Wachowicz
- Emirates Team NZ (NZL) -- James Farmer and Ross Blackman
- K-Challenge (FRA) -- Dawn Riley
- Luna Rossa (ITA) -- Bruno Finzi, Luis Saenz and Marco Mercuriali
- Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team (ITA) -- Tom Weaver and Alessandra Pandarese
- Piu 39 (ITA) -- Paul Henderson
- Team Shosholoza (RSA) -- Salvatore Sarno
- United Internet Team Ger. (GER) -- Uwe Sasse and Andreas John
- Victory Challenge (SWE) -- Bjorn Ohde

Also present with voice but no vote was Jean-Charles Scale representing China Team (CHN); the challenge is pending acceptance by SNG.

At the invitation of the CC, ACM Regatta Director Dyer Jones and Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio were present for a part of the meeting on 10 May. BMW ORACLE Meteorologist Chris Bedford was present for the MDS discussion on 10 May, and K-Challenge Marketing Director Stephanie Nadin led the marketing discussion on 11 May.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

1. Outgoing Chairman Tom Ehman (BMW ORACLE Racing) opened the meeting by welcoming United Internet Team Germany and expressing the hope that the CC could soon formally welcome China Team. He thanked the CC for their hard work and support since its formation a year ago, and commented on the strength and solidarity of the Challengers as a group. A formal vote of all official Challengers was then taken to confirm the election, at the CC’s previous meeting, of George Clyde (K-Challenge) to succeed Mr Ehman. Mr Clyde was elected by acclamation, the CC expressed their grateful appreciation to both, and Mr Clyde assumed the Chair.

2. The Challenger Selection Series working party of John Cutler (Desafio Espanol), Tom Ehman (BMW ORACLE), Bruno Finzi (Luna Rossa) and Dawn Riley (K-Challenge) reported on fruitful discussions with ACM officials Michel Bonnefous, Dyer Jones and Marcus Hutchinson to reconcile the CC’s “San Francisco Plan” with ACM’s bonus points ideas. A new plan, known now as the “Valencia Plan,” had been negotiated. It is similar to the San Francisco plan in structure and schedule, but includes a range of bonus points to be carried into the rounds robin by all Challengers based on the overall results of the Acts. A handshake agreement had been reached on the Valencia Plan with ACM. Pending further consultations by ACM with SNG and the Defender, and approval by the full Challenger Commission, it was hoped that formal agreement and an announcement of the Valencia Plan would be achieved shortly. The Challenger Commission approved the Valencia Plan on a vote of 8-2, and await a decision from ACM.

3. Met Data Service Working Party chairman Luis Saenz (Luna Rossa) presented a report and recommendation on next steps with regard to the CC’s continuing strong opposition to ACM’s Met Data Service on “Neutral Management” and excessive expense grounds. The report was received with appreciation and approved unanimously. The Chairman has made the recommended communication to ACM, and the CC awaits a reply.

4. A proposal by the Defender to delete racing rule 17.1 was not supported; some suggestions for clarifying the application of 17.1 by signalling from the umpires, or modifying umpire procedures, were supported. Modification or the possible elimination of racing rule 18.4 was also supported, and a working party was formed, led by Marco Mercuriali (Luna Rossa), to negotiate same with the Defender, the Umpires and ACM.

5. A proposal by the Measurement Committee at the behest of a number of teams to amend the AC Class Rule to permit, for the 2005 Acts, “Cuben Fibre” spinnakers (banned under Version 5 of the Class Rule) was not supported; nor were proposals that would have relaxed Version 5 of the Class Rule with respect to the otherwise-permitted use in 2005 of Version 4 spinnakers and masts. Amendments to the Class Rule require unanimous consent of all Competitors (Challengers and the Defender).

6. A proposal by ACM to amend the AC Class Rule to permit a 19th crewmember provided by ACM to serve as an onboard cameraman during the 2005 Acts (as was done in 2004) was supported in principle at the CC’s March meeting. However, ACM has not responded to the CC’s concerns about safety, indemnity and insurance; therefore the CC unanimously declined to support onboard cameramen for the 2005 Acts.

7. Concerns previously expressed by a number of teams concerning water quality in the racing area were discussed. The Chairman is pursuing the matter with ACM, who are investigating the matter.

8. A proposal by K-Challenge to amend the Protocol to ban the use of land-based lidar, radar and similar to track competitors' yachts, previously supported by the CC, was confirmed. The CC was advised that, in principle, the Defender supports such an amendment, and the Chairman is pursuing enactment with the Defender.

9. A proposal by ACM to amend the AC Class Rule to change the Cup logo carried on mainsails was not supported.

10. A proposal by the Defender to ban the use by teams of weather boats and personnel at the 2005 Acts in Malmoe and Trapani was not supported.

11. Steps were taken to finalize the incorporation of the Challenger Commission as a Spanish Company. Luis Saenz (Luna Rossa) was elected Secretary, and Alessandra Pandarese (Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team) was elected Treasurer.

12. Stephanie Nadin (K-Challenge) reported on the recent ACM marketing forum. A number of ongoing, serious concerns regarding marketing, TV, promotion and other commercial issues remain, and were discussed at length. Among other actions taken, the Chairman will send a letter to ACM formally expressing the CC’s concerns. The CC were surprised to learn that the Defender now has a weekly television show on Eurosport, and will seek details from ACM and the Defender.

13. The CC Blog was reviewed. There is wide support for it both among the Challengers and externally. It was agreed to continue publishing the blog with both public and password-protected sections.

14. The CC will next meet just prior to Act 4 on 12-13 June in Valencia. A meeting to debrief Act 4 was also confirmed, to take place at 16:00 on Monday, 27 June also in Valencia.

* * *

Tuesday evening Louis Vuitton organized a dinner in honor of the Challengers, celebrating the first gathering of all AC 32 Challengers following the final challenge deadline of 29 April 2005. Christine Belanger and Bruno Trouble hosted on behalf of Louis Vuitton, and expressed their enthusiam and support for the upcoming Louis Vuitton Acts 2005, especially in view of the large and diverse group of Challengers. The Chairman toasted Louis Vuitton for their strong and continuing support of the Challengers and the America's Cup, and expressed the CC's gratitude.

CC MEMO -- 12 May Logistics Meeting, Agenda

ACM had previously called a meeting of Competitors (Challengers and the Defender) for this Thursday, 12 May. The agenda, circulated by ACM today, is available here.

CC MEMO -- Bruno's Buoy

The prototype of a proposed new windward mark for AC 32 made its first appearance in Valencia today -- assembled by ACM Race Operations Manager Niccolo Porzio and his team, then moored to the Race Committee dock at the Real Club Nautico Valencia.

The main (orange) part is 19 metres in circumference and 2.5 metres high. A number of cameramen can stand inside the open interior, and, of course, there is ample area to display ACM sponsor branding on the outside.

The white ball is a helium-filled balloon on a tether that would be released to a height of 100 or so meters to help identify the location of the windwark mark to spectators and media. To avoid the tether tangling in the rigs of the racing yachts, the balloon would be retrieved before the yachts approached the mark to round it.

Regatta Director Dyer Jones will present the concept to the Challenger Commission at its meeting next week; no doubt it will be discussed in some detail. If well received, the plan is to test it during Acts 4 and 5 at Valencia in June.

America's Cup veteran Bruno Trouble conceived the new mark, and he was at the RCNV this afternoon with ACM CEO Michel Bonnefous to check it out. The photo of Bruno and Michel below gives you a better idea of the buoy's size. The ladder is removeable to the inside once the mark is in position, anchored, and the photogs and TV cameramen are inside.

JURY -- JN-013, Oral Summary of the Final Decision in Application ACJ-003

Jury Notice 013 was issued today and is posted here. The text follows:

In El Reto’s Submission, the Jury was asked to answer the question: ‘Is El Reto able to continue its engagement with Mr Kaiko as designer?’

An oral hearing was held on 2nd and 3rd May 2005 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge, London.

Transcript of the oral Summary of the Decision

The Jury is satisfied that while engaged by Mascalzone Latino, Phil Kaiko was a Designer as defined by Protocol 1.1(l) and the Interpretation by the Jury in its decision ACJ001.

As a consequence, he is restricted by Protocol article 13.5 from working as a Designer for another Competitor.

Therefore the answer to El Reto’s Question is ‘No’.

With respect to Costs (Protocol article 21.3) all parties (i.e. El Reto, Mascalzone Latino, other Competitors, ACM, and the Technical Director) are invited to make submissions in regard to the Award of Costs. However, in respect to Mascalzone Latino’s submission, the Jury is not minded to award compensation of either party’s own costs. In making a submission on the question of costs, parties might want to differentiate between Question 1 & 2. Submissions on the award of costs must be received by the Jury by Friday 13th May.

A written decision with reasons will then follow.

[signed]

Bryan Willis

America’s Cup Jury: Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler, Graham McKenzie, Henry Menin, David Tillett, Bryan Willis (chairman)

REGATTA DIRECTOR -- Regatta Notice #6, Code of Conduct for Regatta Officials

Regatta Director Dyer Jones has issued a "Code of Conduct for Regatta Officials" for AC 32 under cover of Regatta Notice #6.

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to "provide a framework for Regatta Officials and all America’s Cup Competitors to act in an open and appropriate manner with each other; and to aid consistency and quality of Regatta Officials decisions."

Regatta Notice #6 is posted here, and the Code of Conduct is posted here.

Also issued under Regatta Notice #6 is a "Schedule of Fees for Regatta Officials" for measurers and umpires temporarily retained by teams in accordance with the Code of Conduct. It applies from 1 April 2004 through 1 March 2007. The Schedule of Fees is posted here, password-protected for the CC.

CC MEMO -- Protocol 4.4

Protocol 4.4 states:

"The Event Authority shall, from 31 December 2003, prepare and submit six-monthly reports regarding Event revenue and expenditure and including forecasts of future Event revenue and expenditure for approval by SNG. SNG shall provide copies of such reports to the Competitors following its approval. The final accounts for the Event shall be audited and submitted to SNG for approval and following SNG's approval distributed to all Competitors."

On 7 Oct 2004 an email was sent by the CC Chairman to SNG and ACM in regard to compliance with Protocol 4.4. That email, previously copied to Challengers as of that date, is available here and is password-protected for CC members only. No reply was received from SNG; ACM replied on 1 February 2005. That reply is available here, also password-protected.

On 11 April 2005 the Challenger Commission sent a letter to SNG in regard to compliance with Protocol 4.4. That letter, previously copied to Challengers as of that date, is available here and is also password-protected. No reply has been received.

Yesterday, ACM sent a document to Challengers showing some financial information. That document is available here, password-protected as well.

The matter will be taken up once again at the May CC meeting.

CC MEMO -- Blog Milestone

This evening our blogsite received its 10,000th visitor -- all in less than three months. I think everyone involved with the CC are pleasantly surprised by how well the blog has been received.

The CC Blog was initiated on 30th January. Let the record show that it was set up at my mother's home in Michigan on a very cold Sunday morning in Michigan where, jetlagged and wide awake at 0300, I found the uninterrupted time to "just do it." It took all of an hour or so to set up. The Site Meter was not added until a few days later -- 6 February -- and tonight it rolled past 10,000.

We appreciate the many kind comments from our constituents and media. The "transparency" and "insider's view" that the CC Blog has provided to AC media and Cup aficionados is a secondary benefit to our main goal of providing a fast, accurate and easily accessible source of information for the Challengers, and a chronology of developments impacting the teams, especially as new ones came on board.

It has made administration of the CC much easier, as we can now answer many inquiries from teams by saying, simply, "it is posted on the blog." And if an answer is not already posted, we usually post one.

Other than the time it takes, which is probably less than answering the same questions over and over, the marginal cost is de minimus -- less than $300/year. And that amount is for domain hosting not the Blogger software and setup, which is free. Indeed, Blogger (www.blogger.com -- a Google subsidiary) provides free bloghosting as well. Organizations such as Valencia Sailing (http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com) make good use of Blogger's free service.

We will do our best to keep the information flowing, openly and promptly. Comments and suggestions are always appreciated, and may be sent to tfe[at]tfehman[dot]com.

Site Meter details for the CC Blog are available by clicking here, or on the visitor number at page bottom.