Yachting: Rivals try to end deadlock

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Team New Zealand and Prada have an emergency meeting this morning to try to reach a deal on sailing rules for the America's Cup.

On-board umpires and immediate penalty turns have caused a stalemate between the rival syndicates.

Neither was used in the challenger series, but Team New Zealand want both for the match. Prada could go to the arbitration panel which sorts out disputes between the challenger and defender to make the call.

Team New Zealand want to force a penalised boat to carry out its 270-degree turn as soon as it is flagged. During the challenger series, the penalty could be done at any time before the race finish.

The Kiwis also want to have observers on the back of each yacht, who are in contact with the umpire boat behind.

Prada tested the on-board umpires this weekend during training, and will continue trialing with them today.

Both syndicates will present their views at today's 9am meeting with the umpire committee.

The rules adviser for Team New Zealand, Russell Green, said the Italians seemed more concerned about the immediate penalties.

"I guess they are worried about getting fouls against Russell [Coutts] in the pre-start," he said. "I think they might use the on-board umpires as a bargaining tool - they'll agree if we give in to delayed penalties. But we don't believe in that kind of negotiation."

Prada operations manager Laurent Esquier would not comment on Green's opinion, but said taking the matter to the arbitration panel was an option to "speed up the process."

"But we are not too concerned yet. We have a bunch of issues that need to be sorted out, and that's normal at this stage.

"It took the challengers six months to settle on the sailing instructions, and we've had eight days. We are already three-quarters of the way there."