A broken boat is not enough to stop racing when the oldest trophy in sport is on the line - and stakeholders need to be kept happy.
American Magic capsized during the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series in Auckland. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
A capsize, like American Magic suffered on Sunday in the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series, is "unfortunate" but racing must go on, regatta director Iain Murray says.
Changing the schedule for the Challenger Selection Series took days to finalise after prolonged negotiations between the teams and race organisers.
Murray said arriving at the revised schedule "had some complications".
Friday's racing was cancelled and the weekend's racing reduced to one race a day after American Magic withdrew from racing while they repair their boat ahead of the series' semi-finals next weekend.
The remaining challengers, Team UK and Luna Rossa, will take part in "ghost" races to pick up points alongside some actual racing.
As part of the regatta protocol the Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa, could make changes to the racing dates but needed agreement from the other challengers and the defenders Team New Zealand.
Race Director Iain Murray. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
Murray said the delay in the decision making was because they wanted to make sure the reasons for making the changes had been fully explored.
"There has been a lot of discussion between all of the parties to reorganise this but everyone has agreed and to work that in with is the best time to work with all of the stakeholders, including television and broadcasters all around the world.
"We just want to do this properly and thoroughly and make sure [the changes] work for everyone in the best possible way that they can."
Despite the toing and froing Murray expected the teams would work together to do whatever necessary to make sure the racing went ahead and was competitive should any further changes be needed.
"You've seen the camaraderie between the teams over the last week and I think the agreements, if necessary, to make the competition proper they will prevail."
In the revised schedule, the undefeated Team UK need to only win once over Luna Rossa to secure their place in the Challenger Selection Series final.
But, weather permitting, spectators have been guaranteed two days of racing - even if Sunday is a dead-rubber followed by a "ghost" race.
"We sort to get confirmation that both teams would race both days, which they've agreed to do," Murray said.
Murray acknowledged American Magic faced a "significant setback" and would miss four races this weekend "which I'm sure they dearly wanted to be involved in".
But race roganisers were looking at the bigger picture.
Team New Zealand sailor Richard Meacham (shirtless) assists with the recovery of Patriot after American Magic capsize in their Round Robin 2 match against Luna Rossa. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"The boats and the teams are responsible for their outcomes," Murray said of American Magic's capsize and any potential future mishaps.
"We don't really have the ability to delay a race because someone's not ready or their boat's broken or anything like that, our delays are really things that are within our control, whether the electronic system or the weather or sea state or some other force majeure type event was put upon us.
"We have schedules, we have a lot of contingency built in with the reserve days but of course we want the competition to be the proper competition that the America's Cup deserves and the race is the one on the water."
Racing in the Challenger Selection Series and the America's Cup in March can take place on five different race courses around the harbour.
North Head in Devonport. Photo: Supplied.
Which course is used each day is decided by Murray who makes the call on the morning of the race - although wind conditions can lead to late changes.
The spectator-friendly course C is a first choice but Murray said that course provided some challenges and he might opt for a different course.
"What we've learnt is there is some more restrictions on parts of it...trying sail around North Head, which is our priority, has some limitations because of the rough rock, Bean Rock, North Head, there is some physical limitations at various wind directions that just don't allow us to actually cater for all winds around there.
"Where the teams have been practicing, east of Browns Island, has been a little bit of a sleeper in what these boats wanted but the boats have done a lot of development down there and they've had a lot of good sailing so I think you'll see us start to utilise that area a little bit more."
