IL COMMENTO DELLA STAMPA NEOZELANDESE By Paul Lewis, New Zealand Herald (September 3, 2013) - The America’s Cup international jury today docked Oracle Team USA two points in the America’s Cup match race series against Emirates Team New Zealand, banned a leading Oracle sailor from the regatta and excluded another from taking part in the first four races. In addition Oracle have been fined US$250,000 while two Oracle shore crew have also been excluded from the 34th America’s Cup. The action comes after days of jury inquiries into allegations of cheating involving the discovery of illegal modifications to AC45 45-foot catamarans belonging to Oracle and used in the America’s Cup World Series. The team members are the first ever to be excluded from an America’s Cup regatta for cheating. The sailor banned is Dirk de Ridder, the wingsail trimmer and a leading member of Oracle’s crew, recognised as one of the best trimmers in the world. The other sailor excluded for four races is former Team New Zealand sailor Matt Mitchell. Shore crew Andy Walker (also a Kiwi) and Australian Bryce Ruthenberg have also been excluded from the regatta. The jury said: “OTUSA has not used its best endeavours to ensure that the relevant members were aware of the applicable rules and provide proper direction and supervision.” “The Jury does not accept OTUSA Management’s claim they had adequate systems in place to ensure that employees complied with the Class Rule and that it was effectively the actions of a small number of misguided employees whom they had or would take action against. “Most of those involved are experienced professional sailors or boat builders. The stark reality is a series of breaches occurred over a period of time which clearly demonstrated that their systems were not adequate or robust as demonstrated by multiple breaches at multiple events. “It is not just the benefit of hindsight that it is evident that elementary and necessary precautions were not taken to prevent such breaches occurring. The Jury failed to discover which individuals were responsible for all the breaches, resulting in concerns there may have been more. “For example, there was evidence of a bag of lead being inserted into a king post but no evidence of who removed it or what happened to it. There were emails referring to “fill king posts? as if there was an intention to fill both king posts on boat BAR, but no evidence as to whether one king post was filled and emptied.