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Teams ponder points deduction after jury ruling
Race leaders Groupama, Abu Dhabi and Team Telefónica faced a dilemma on Tuesday after the independent international jury ruled that they would each incur two-point penalties if they hauled their boats out of the water for repairs.
Under race rules, the fleet is required to stay in the water with their masts in place during the Lorient stopover, but damage to a keel fairing on Abu Dhabi, two broken rudders on Telefónica and mast problems on Groupama led to all three making requests to the jury for dispensation.
Under the terms of the ruling posted on the race´s official noticeboard, only repairs specified in their requests could be carried out with any other remedial work or cleaning strictly prohibited.
Early reactions from Abu Dhbai and Groupama suggest neither are likely to incurr the points penalty with both formulating plans to carry out the repairs with the boats in the water.
On Tuesday morning, the jury denied Telefónica's request to use a pair of rudders not included in their certified race inventory. The jury ruling also indicated that use of non compliant rudders in the Lorient In-Port Race, Leg 9 or the in-port race in Galway would result in a penalty of one place per scoring opportunity.
The Spanish team are currently digesting the content of the ruling and considering their options.
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Comments
Ok, all skipper/team leader known about the rules. What not garantee that rule as a good one. C'mon, it's tranfering the responsability for safety to the skippers and punisshing then for it. That's Nonsense So, I have great idea for a new rule for F1. Just penalise the car that stop to change tires and refill.
I think what you guys need to be differenciate between is "sea worthy" and "race fit". To fix the boats to go faster is a luxuary, and comes at a cost. That is how I would interperate the judges discission. I am sure if the boats were not sea worthy they would not be allowed to sail at all.
Piero...nonsense. The jury decision is a GIFT to the boats that asked for rule leniency. Under the rules they would not be allowed to pull their boats out of the water, but due to the safety circumstances the jury has allowed it, albeit not without consequence. Since the skipper has final say over the safety of his crew, he has a choice - accept the jury decision to alter the rules for his benefit or abandon the race. Ultimately, it is the jury's job to enforce the rules. It is the skippers decision to operate his boat within those rules and keep the crew safe. The jury is NOT putting the crews at risk. The skippers decision will determine the safety of the crew..as it should be.
All this point to a injustice and favoring PUMA over all other boats. Appears that the juri is making all efforts to give PUMA unfair advantages.
It should not be titled "Teams ponder points deduction after jury ruling" but re-titled "VOR organisers and management ponder boat and/or mast lifting with respect to inescapable crew safety requirements and their liability thereto"
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