15 May 2013

America's Cup to go ahead despite fatality

12:15 pm on 15 May 2013

This year's America's Cup contest in San Francisco will go ahead as planned after the death of a sailor during training last week.

Double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson, 36, was trapped beneath the AC72 catamaran Artemis when it capsized in San Francisco Bay last Thursday.

New Zealand yachtsman Craig Monk, who was on the boat, sustained minor hand injuries.

The organisers have announced they've set up a review committee to look into Andrew Simpson's death.

Golden Gate Yacht Club vice-commodore Tom Ehman says the findings and that of a police review on the capsize willbe known within a fortnight.

The four teams involved, including New Zealand, are expected to return to training on the water at the end of the week.

The America's Cup challengers series begins on 5 July and runs through to the end of August. The winners of that series will face defenders Oracle Racing in the cup match, which is scheduled for 8-22 September.