WSTA Names Two Board Members for ACRM
Jim Farmer and Mikhail Tuzov will Represent WSTA: Press Releases

October 7, 2010

ACRM Press Release:

As part of the continuing process toward establishing the neutral, independent, professional and fair race management entity to run the 34th America’s Cup and AC World Series regattas, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) today welcomed the appointment of two directors by the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) to the five-person ACRM Board of Directors. 

James Farmer (NZL), a Trustee of Emirates Team New Zealand, and Mikhail Tuzov (RUS), a founding member of the Synergy team, were nominated by the WSTA board this week at a meeting in Valencia, Spain. 

“ACRM welcomes the appointments of James Farmer and Mikhail Tuzov as WSTA’s board representatives to ACRM,” said Iain Murray, ACRM CEO and Regatta Director of the 34th America’s Cup.  “This brings us one step closer to formalizing ACRM and moving forward on preparations for running the 34th America’s Cup regatta.  The Board will play an important part in assuring a fair competition for all.”

Murray was appointed Regatta Director last month and serves as CEO of ACRM which is still in the early stages of its formation.  The ACRM is being established by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), the current America’s Cup Trustee, as a perpetual entity to run fair racing for the benefit of all competitors. 

The Protocol Governing the 34th America’s Cup calls for a five-member ACRM Board consisting of: the Regatta Director (who also serves as Chief Executive), one person appointed by the Defender, one person appointed by the Challenger of Record, and two persons appointed by WSTA.  The Defender and Challenger of Record representatives are expected to be announced soon. 

Mikhail Tuzov is a businessman, engineer and investor in Russia who was among the founders of the Synergy Russian Sailing Team, which has successfully competed in the TP52 Class on the Audi MedCup circuit and in the Louis Vuitton Trophy. 

James Farmer is a Barrister and Queen’s Counsel in New Zealand and has been a Director and Trustee with Emirates Team New Zealand since 2004.  He was the team’s representative on the Challenger Commission during the 32nd America’s Cup. 

The complete ACRM Board is expected to be in place later this month and plans to convene for the first time in advance of a Competitors’ briefing scheduled for 22nd October in Paris. 

View Original Press Release (pdf)
 

WSTA Press Release:

Mikhail Tuzov (RUS) and James Farmer (NZL) will join the five-person board with immediate effect, their names having been put forward for consideration by the Synergy Russian Sailing Team and Emirates Team New Zealand respectively. The WSTA voted this week on their nomination to the ACRM board.

Having representation on the board of ACRM is an important check and balance on the overall fairness of the next Americas Cup for all teams, said Paul Cayard, the chairman of the WSTA. We are confident our nominees will greatly contribute to the execution of the vision for AC 34 while representing the interests of the challengers in the management of the event.

ACRM is the body charged in the Protocol with providing neutral, independent, professional, and fair race management for the next edition of the Americas Cup.

The board of ACRM consists of five people the recently appointed Regatta Director Iain Murray (AUS), as well as one representative from the Defender, one from the Challenger of Record, and the two appointed by WSTA.

Mikhail Tuzov is a businessman, engineer and investor in Russia who was among the founders of the Synergy Russian Sailing Team, which has successfully competed in the TP52 Class on the Audi MedCup circuit and in the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

James Farmer is a Barrister and Queens Counsel in New Zealand and has been a Director and Trustee with Emirates Team New Zealand since 2004. He was the team’s representative on the Challenger Commission during the 32nd Americas Cup.

ACRM welcomes the appointments of James Farmer and Mikhail Tuzov as WSTAs board representatives to ACRM, said Iain Murray, ACRM CEO and Regatta Director of the 34th Americas Cup. This brings us one step closer to formalizing ACRM and moving forward on preparations for running the 34th Americas Cup regatta. The Board will play an important part in assuring a fair competition for all.

As per the Protocol, the two members nominated by WSTA will have their positions on the board confirmed by a majority vote of the Competitors Forum following the close of entries for the Cup early next year.

The WSTA was created in the spring of 2009 to promote the interests of the some of the top sailing teams in the world. In partnership with Louis Vuitton, the WSTA has organized three Louis Vuitton Trophy events, with a fourth and final regatta scheduled in Dubai next month. 
 

About WSTA
The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) was founded in 2009 by a group of professional yacht racing teams to develop regular high-level match race regattas in large and complex racing yachts.  The WSTA is jointly owned by its nine shareholders (the teams) and represents the interests of those teams in the pursuit of fair and highly competitive racing.  The WSTA, in conjunction with title partner Louis Vuitton, co-organizes the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

About Louis Vuitton
The world leader in luxury, Louis Vuitton has been synonymous with the art of stylish travel since 1854. Since 1987, it has been part of LVMH/MoëtHennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world's most prestigious luxury goods group headed by Bernard Arnault.  Since 1997, with the arrival of the designer Marc Jacobs, it has extended its expertise to women's and men's ready-to-wear, shoes, watches and jewelry, eyewear, combining traditional craftsmanship with flair and innovation to create a complete lifestyle experience. Today, Louis Vuitton has an exclusive network of stores all across the world.
 

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