Yachting: Team NZ all ears over jury's audio decision

By Suzanne McFadden

Team New Zealand may have to go back to screaming over the drone of helicopters if their innovative America's Cup earpieces are ruled illegal today.

The Kiwis devised a system, based on hearing aids, so skipper Russell Coutts could communicate with his crew in the noisy pre-starts.

But rivals Prada questioned whether the audio system was legal, and the Cup jury will make a ruling today.

Team New Zealand bowman Dean Phipps, who wears one of the earpieces, said it had saved Coutts from yelling at the crew.

"It's a simple system we've been working on for 1 1/2 years, after the helicopter noise in San Diego," he said. "We can hear over the drone what Russell is trying to achieve in the pre-start. Instead of screaming like we did in 95, we can tune it down a bit."

Prada complained to the jury about the communication system after the first race.

They were worried that the wireless earpieces worn by the trimmers and bowmen on Team New Zealand might be able to receive signals from outside the boat.

The New Zealanders got a request from the jury for evidence that the system was closed circuit and worked only on Black Magic.

The team invited the jury down to the boat yesterday morning, before it left the dock, to inspect the system.

The jury gave an interim decision, saying it considered the earpieces legal, but met again last night at the insistence of Team New Zealand to give a full ruling. It delayed its decision.

No matter what the outcome of today's decision, jury chairman Bryan Willis has said no points will be deducted from Team New Zealand for the first two races.

The crew would be disappointed, but not shattered, if they lost the system.

Team New Zealand rules adviser Russell Green said he was confident the earpieces would stay.

"Prada are just trying to unsettle us," he said. "There's nothing illegal about it."