Richard Gladwell: AC Race Director Iain Murray hits back on Semi Final racing decisions

QUOTE-UNQUOTE: 'Emirates Team New Zealand damaged the lower section of their wingsail,' [Iain Murray] said (before racing got underway).'They returned to the dock doing 44kts.They changed their wingsail from their Reserve Wing to their Race Wing, which they had been preserving for the America's Cup, to expedite their return to the race course to race two more races. It was a decision made by Team New Zealand to take their best wing to the race course.'(Emirates Team New Zealand subsequently denied this assertion and told Sail-World that both their wingsails were 'identical in every way'). Murray noted that Artemis Racing also suffered some damage and elected to withdraw from Race 1 and conserve their energy to compete in Race 2. Other competitors suffered damage to fairings caused by frequent high-speed dives into the Great Sound. –Richard Gladwell, NZ editor for Sail-World.com, in his write-up after today's racing was called off, and his impressions of Regatta Director Iain Murray's (AUS) pre-race briefing this morning in BDA following yesterday's carnage. It's a long and Interesting read, especially for AC fans. Full story.

A none-too-happy looking AC35 (and AC34) Regatta Director Iain Murray (AUS) at this morning's daily briefing for the media at the press center in BDA. Photo courtesy of Richard Gladwell / www.photosport.co.nz.