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Alinghi, BMW fail to break America's Cup deadlock
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-21 09:39
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MADRID: America's Cup holders Alinghi and challengers BMW Oracle remain in dispute over the rules of the 33rd edition of the event after a BMW-imposed deadline for Alinghi to back down expired on Monday.
According to the letter, published by BMW, the deal "would settle all the remaining issues" before a head-to-head showdown for the Cup in Valencia, Spain starting on Feb 8.
"It isn't possible to negotiate under the threat of a lawsuit," an SNG source, who asked not to be named, said on Tuesday.
The club was still prepared to negotiate as long as the GGYC withdrew its lawsuit, the source said, adding SNG looked forward to racing on Feb 8.
BMW have asked the New York Supreme Court to rule on the validity of the sails on Alinghi's giant catamaran, believing they contravene nationality rules under the Deed of Gift document which governs the event.
The teams have blamed each other for the break-up of talks in Singapore aimed at ending their long-running dispute.
"Once again (SNG/Alinghi) has walked away from the opportunity to resolve the litigation and all other issues ... and to assure a clean and fair competition on the water," GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Last Wednesday we signed the Singapore agreement and the governing body of our sport, ISAF, witnessed it," he said.
"The only signature missing was that of the defender, SNG/Alinghi.
In a later statement, BMW said they would seek redress from the event's International Jury against the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for their showdown issued by Alinghi on Tuesday.
"Both documents are riddled with errors," said Ehman.
"It is clearer than ever that SNG is hell-bent on making the America's Cup the Alinghi Cup."
Reuters
