No protests over NZ boat in America's Cup

Agence France-Presse, Auckland, New Zealand

America's Cup challengers have failed to lodge any formal protest over Team New Zealand's contentious double hull design as the deadline for final appeals passed.

Challengers Alinghi and Oracle had until mid-afternoon Wednesday to submit to the Cup Arbitration Panel any protests over the design, which will be essential in New Zealand's cup defense next month.

While Alinghi and Oracle revealed differing but largely conventional design approaches, both of Team New Zealand's race boats featured the snug-fitting and innovative false hull.

Opponents have claimed the design feature, nicknamed 'hula' by its makers and which has been approved by cup measurers, breaches the intent of the International America's Cup Class Rule.

Lawyers for Oracle reportedly scoured rulebooks for avenues of protest before the team's rules adviser Tom Ehman confirmed no protest would be lodged.

No official protest was received from Alinghi, although the Swiss syndicate put to the jury a series of questions about the false hull, which circumvents stringent restrictions on hull shape because it is classified as an appendage rather than part of the hull.

Team New Zealand has rejected its rivals' criticisms, saying it would not have been issued certificates for yachts NZL-81 and NZL-82 unless the measurers were convinced of the false hull's legality.

"It was our obligation to prove to the measurers that it doesn't touch the hull and we have proved that," New Zealand design team head Tom Schnackenberg said.

Further issues can be raised after the challenger finals, prior to the best-of-nine race America's Cup match which starts on Feb. 15 or by a red flag protest during racing itself.