Former America's Cup skipper, the Australian Iain Murray, has been appointed as the regatta director for the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda.
Murray filled the same role at the 2013 event in San Francisco and his job involves setting the competitive parameters for the event.
Murray sees his re-appointment to a second term as an opportunity to advance the America's Cup forward beyond what was achieved last time.
America's Cup regatta director Iain Murray. Photo: Supplied
"Leading into the last America's Cup, there were so many major changes and collectively we learned so much about how to design, build and race these foiling multihulls," Murray says.
"Now we have the chance to fine-tune and make adjustments to make it even better. Whether it's the conversion to foiling AC45s for the America's Cup World Series, the new AC62s, the spectator experience, or the safety mechanisms - last time we really had to find our way. This time we have a template to work from and I expect we'll see improvements across the board."
Murray is required to nominate regatta officials, including a measurement committee and umpires, as well as administer the regatta officials fund to a budget agreed by the competitors.
Each team contributes in equal measure to the fund, initially through their entry fees.
"We're focused on getting ready for the first America's Cup World Series events in the new foiling versions of the AC45s, as well as pulling together a measurement committee and finalizing some details about the AC62. Everybody is contributing and the process is working well."
