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Thursday, 1 December 2011

Camper Suffer Second Protest


Camper, crewed by Team New Zealand, have reacted with disappointment after their boat was the subject of a protest from French Volvo Ocean Race rivals Groupama, for the second time in just over a month.

The dispute revolves around Camper's forestay and rigging which skipper Franck Cammas's team say breaks highly technical race rules and gives them an unfair advantage in the Volvo Ocean race.

The same equipment had already been the subject of official complaints from opponents Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Puma, followed a day later by Telefonica in early October and then Groupama after the first in-port race in Alicante, Spain on Oct 29.

All previous four protests were rejected.

Camper's Australian skipper Chris Nicholson said he believed the Groupama appeal was a waste of time.

"We are still awaiting full details but we're disappointed that this action has been taken as we feel this issue has already been addressed in a full and final manner first by the arbitration panel and then by the international jury," he said on Wednesday.

"Our programme has always been open and above board in all aspects and we await to see if there are any new grounds on which this protest could be based on."

The latest protest by the French team came after they finished third in the 6,500 nautical mile first leg on Tuesday in Cape Town. Telefonica took first place on Saturday and lead the six-strong fleet on 32 points. Camper, who completed the leg on Sunday, have 29.

Three of the boats failed to finish the stage from Alicante - Puma and Abu Dhabi both broke their masts and Team Sanya of China suffered a hole in her hull.

The 39,000-nautical mile race, rated the toughest in professional in offshore racing, finishes on July 8 in Galway, Ireland.