Kiwis grab another point in America's Cup trials

Team New Zealand nabbed another point, again sailing unopposed as Sweden's Artemis Racing forfeited their first scheduled race in the America's Cup challenger series. Artemis, stunned in May by a training crash that killed crewman Andrew Simpson and destroyed their first AC72 catamaran, aren't expected to have their new boat ready before the end of July. That left Emirates Team New Zealand to speed around the course alone for the second straight time Tuesday, after Italy's Luna Rossa forfeited the opening race on Sunday pending the outcome of a protest over late rule changes. The international jury Monday heard evidence and questioned parties in the so-called "Ruddergate" protest, in which Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand claim regatta director Iain Murray overstepped his authority in calling for a change to rudder design in the name of safety. Murray says the change, one of 37 recommended in the wake of Simpson's death, is an integral part of a comprehensive package of safety improvements. But the protesting teams say he lacks the authority to impose a design change that they claim is essentially a performance issue. They argue that defending America's Cup champions Oracle Team New Zealand were handed an advantage by the change because they have trained with the new design. Team New Zealand opted to race while the protest is being heard, with the jury's decision expected this week. On Tuesday, in breezes of 16-17 knots the Dean Barker-skippered Aotearoa crossed the start line at 32 knots and delivered another impressive display of speed on San Francisco Bay. They completed the 16.16 nautical mile course in 45 minutes 28 seconds, achieving a top speed of 43.26 knots. The next round robin race in the Louis Vuitton Cup is slated for Thursday, when New Zealand and Luna Rossa are again scheduled to meet. The winner of the round robin advance directly to the Louis Vuitton Cup final round, where they'll meet the winner of a semi-final series between the remaining two teams. The winners of the challenger series final will then take on Oracle Team USA in the America's Cup finals in September. From: AFP