Iain Murray selected as Regatta Director for 34th America’s Cup

America’s Cup experience and business acumen are the primary attributes of the new 34^th America’s Cup Regatta Director, Iain Murray.

As Regatta Director, Murray (52, Sydney, Australia) heads up the new America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM), holding the dual role of CEO of the independent organization.

This is the first time in the event’s 159-year history that the defender has divested management of the competition into the hands of a neutral body and a central part of its vision to move the America’s Cup into the future.

ACRM will have responsibility over a wide range of topics including budget, management of the new AC72 and AC45 classes, the Youth America’s Cup (slated for 2012), the International Jury, race committee, umpires and measurement committee.

ACRM also will oversee the operation of a meteorological and oceanographic data service, the establishment and management of the America’s Cup Village, and infrastructure at all America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) venues.

With the 34th Match slated for 2013, one of ACRM’s immediate priorities is getting the ACWS up and running. Three regattas are planned for next year beginning in June or July, and ACRM is responsible for selecting the venues and managing the logistics from event to event.

Iain Murray’s bio

Iain’s greatest success came in Sydney’s iconic 18ft skiff class, in which he designed, built and sailed Color 7to win a record six consecutive championships from 1977 to 1982. The association between Murray and Australia’s Channel 7 carries on today, 33 years later.

The success in the 18’ skiffs led Syd Fischer, Australia’s most regular and least successful challenger for the America’s Cup, to select him as helmsman of his 1983 challenger Advance.

Murray joined with Kevin Parry’s Kookaburra syndicate for Australia’s defense of the Cup in 1987. Kookaburra earned the right to defend the Cup after a cantankerous defense series, but was vanquished in the 26th Cup Match by Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes.

Murray also led the Spirit of Australia Challenge for the 1992 Challenger Series.