CAMPER to seek redress on jury decision

Emirates Team New Zealand Media Update: CAMPER to seek redress on jury decision

20 April 2012

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand will seek redress on the decision by the international jury to dismiss a protest regarding Team Telefónica's sails during Leg 4.

The jury decided the original rule was ambiguous and that Telefonica were reasonable in assuming they were in compliance.

However, CAMPER has applied to the jury seeking redress as the team believes that Telefonica gained an unfair advantage from carrying the extra sail on board for Leg 4 in which Telefonica finished less than two minutes ahead of CAMPER.

The potential redress options available to the jury are open but would most likely include awarding of extra points and or placing CAMPER ahead of Telefonica on the leaderboard for Leg 4,

CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson says that team were disappointed that the jury had dismissed the protest and that seeking redress was necessary to ensure a fair result.

“We were very disappointed and surprised that the jury took this action. It seems unfair to us that we lost Leg 4 by under two minutes to a boat that was breaking the rules and carrying an extra sail than us. It’s the equivalent of a golfer carrying an extra club in their bag.

“The reality is that Telefonica were given a flawed rule interpretation by the Organising Authority, that was not communicated to other teams as required by the rules and were therefore able to sail with an unfair advantage during the leg.

“This is no dark art. There is hard evidence that the type of extra sail that Telefonica carried would have given them a performance advantage. That performance advantage could very easily equate to the 1m 33s margin that Telefonica beat us by into Auckland.

“The system has broken down and we are left with no choice but to pursue redress. I think it’s clear and obvious what actions the jury needs to take to ensure a fair result in Leg 4.

“We have nothing to hide and will be putting our case robustly to the jury.”

The international jury is due to hear CAMPER’s submission for redress tomorrow morning local time.

Pictures of CAMPER, video footage and audio files are available upon request. Further information and race updates will be available on our blog and on our Facebook page

ENDS

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