Dalton rules out legal challenge against Oracle

Emirates Team New Zealand MD Grant Dalton. Photo / Chris Cameron

Emirates Team New Zealand managing Grant Dalton has categorically ruled out making any legal challenge against Oracle Team USA.

Dalton addressed rumours that Team NZ was planning to take Oracle to court over the automatic "Herbie" system it used to work their foils. The system has been widely credited as giving Oracle the edge over Team NZ, allowing them to win the America's Cup in San Fransisco by nine races to eight.

Speaking on Radio Sport today Dalton said: "I only heard that a few hours ago. Absolutely not, in any shape form or any other way. It would be an incredibly bad thing to do."

Many in Team NZ had already dispersed, including the team's lawyer and rules advisor, Russell Green, so there was no way a challenge could be mounted, he said.

Dalton would not comment on whether he thought the "Herbie" system was legal or not.

Read sailing reporter Paul Lewis' column on how Oracle may have won the America's Cup tech race.

"It would be so wrong for me or any person within the team to entertain a discussion about that."

He said the team had tried to challenge the system with the America's Cup jury before racing began but had now accepted that the America's Cup measurers endorsed it as allowed under the rules.

He was still unclear as to how exactly the automatic foiling mechanism worked.

Dalton said he was now experiencing a "brutal" time as other sailing bodies worked to entice Team NZ members.