Assa Abloy lodged a protest against Volvo Ocean Race leg one winner illbruck over the alleged misuse of the Internet. On the protest form, Assa Abloy states, that “Access to a site containing extensive meteorological information can only be obtained by adding the suffix ‘/rsm’ to the illbruck Challenge nominated site http://atmosfera.lma.fi.upm.es.

The required suffix is not publicly known and it is not mentioned on the Website nor was it published in the Leg 1 Sailing Instructions, Annex C. Therefore, the site was not publicly available nor known to all other boats, so use of it infringes RRS 41 (as it falls outside the exemption of NOR (Notice Of Race) 7.4.3); and NOR 7.4.4.”

Under new rules introduced for the Volvo Ocean Race each team is allowed to list 10 web sites they want to view during each leg. Navigators pick sites where they can download all the information they require for a leg, as met offices from different countries provide different forecasts and it is possible to obtain all manner of other meteorological information from currents to icebergs to different types of satellite weather images.

Prior to the start of each leg these lists are compiled and published as part of the leg sailing instructions. The idea is that allowing teams to view the same web sites creates a level playing field.

The hearing was provisionally scheduled for 1400 local time (1200UT) on Thursday 1st November at Race Headquarters, Cape Town. – www.VolvoOceanRace.org