Coast Guard Issues Permit For America's Cup Racing On SF Bay

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The U.S. Coast Guard issued the official permit late Friday that is required to conduct America's Cup yacht racing on San Francisco Bay beginning next week.

The permit requires the implementation of 37 safety recommendations made by Iain Murray, independent Regatta Director for the America's Cup, following a deadly training accident by a Swedish team in May.

"This is an important and necessary step for the America's Cup," said Murray.

The permit was issued despite appeals by teams from New Zealand and Italy involving the late changes to the regatta rules following the fatal incident. An international jury will hear the protest, but not until after racing has already begun.

Murray defended the new rules despite the protest.

"I have exercised my professional judgment to the best of my ability, and have weighed carefully the unfortunate circumstances thrust upon us including (as a paramount consideration) the need to increase the safety of our crews, the officials and other Bay users, as well as the investment made by Competitors and all other stakeholders in this event. Safety is not a multiple-choice selection from which Competitors pick and choose," he said in a statement e-mailed to CBS San Francisco.

America's Cup racing runs from July 5th through the end of September.

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