Eight Sailors Suspended In Boat-Clearing Brawl

RAS AL-KHAIMAH, UAE—Famed yacht club the Société Nautique de Genève suspended eight sailors from the Alinghi of Switzerland and BMW Oracle Racing teams Friday for their part in an ugly boat-clearing brawl during the 33rd America’s Cup. Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth reportedly triggered the melee when he charged the foredeck after BMW’s afterguard Larry Ellison slab-reefed while their boat was on port tack. “These two teams have a history,” said Alinghi midbowman Curtis Blewett referring to last year’s race when an overly aggressive jibe caused both catamarans to clear. “It was pretty inevitable something was going to happen this time. You could tell they were out for blood.” On-the-water umpires immediately ejected Butterworth, who was then forced to swim 17 miles to shore.