Yachting: Threat to halt America's Cup

The "ruddergate" debate has become even messier, with America's Cup regatta director Iain Murray threatening to scuttle the event unless his safety recommendations are upheld by the international jury.

A "very upset" Murray called a briefing in San Francisco this morning to explain the more contentious points of his 37 safety recommendations introduced in the wake of the death of Artemis sailor Andrew Simpson.

Emirates Team New Zealand and Italian team Luna Rossa have each lodged protests with the international jury over the Murray's recommendation regarding rudder elevators. The five-member jury is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to hear the protest.

In the meantime the debate has descended into a bitter war of words, with Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena describing the behaviour of Oracle and Artemis as "shameful" and exploitative. The Italian also intimated his team will consider boycotting the event if the jury does not rule in their favour.

However, Murray said if the jury does not uphold his recommendations as they now sit, there will be no event at all.

Given the 37 recommendations form part of the document Murray put to the Coastguard authorities in his application for a marine event permit, should any of those points be altered, it will jeopardise the permit.

Murray believes the rudder elevators, which are not compulsory, are essential to being able to safely control the high-powered AC72 catamarans. Should his recommendation be overturned by the jury, he said he will be forced to go back to the Coastguard and tell them he doesn't think racing would be safe.

"I can't stand by and honestly tell them with my hand on my heart ... that the rules have changed, and this is safe," said Murray.

"I will have to inform the Coastguard that the safety plan has not been met, and then discussion will have to take place whether the permit to race stands or it doesn't stand.

"Without a permit to race on San Francisco Bay, there will be no regatta."

Murray said he finds it difficult to understand why Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa are protesting when both teams said they were supportive of all 37 safety recommendations when they were unveiled at a meeting on May 22 following extensive consultation with all the teams.

"After that meeting Grant Dalton came up to me and shook my hand in front of the other teams and said 'you won't get any pushback from Team New Zealand'," Murray said.

- Dana Johannsen of the New Zealand Herald in San Francisco

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