Rule change suggested

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 72

Rule change suggested

NZPA-AAP Fremantle ■ A loosening of rules governing advertising on 12 metre yachts will be put to the class’s international association in Fremantle today. Suggested changes would allow the use of openly commercial names for America’s Cup yachts and advertising on spinnakers and crew clothing, said a British lawyer, Phillip Tolhurst, yesterday. Mr Tolhurst said it was time for a rationalisation

of an “effectively meaningless” rule which prevented such advertising on cup yachts. He is putting the proposal to a scheduled meeting of the Twelve Metre Association (which is really a meeting of Cup yacht owners) on behalf of the British White Horse challenge. “It costs millions of dollars to enter a yacht to challenge for the America’s Cup and without the ability to sell sponsorship rights there would be very few com-

petitors,” he said. “Sponsors may be more difficult to find in future unless they are allowed to gain some publicity.” Mr Tolhurst said he hoped the meeting would give a clear mandate and precise instructions to put before the International Yacht Racing Union, the supreme controlling body in yachting. But he said it was unlikely the association would attempt to make any rule change affecting the present America’s Cup regatta.