America's Cup club hands Oracle lawsuit ultimatum
MADRID: The club of America's Cup holders Alinghi has demanded US team BMW Oracle withdraw a lawsuit that is holding up plans to stage the 2009 event in Valencia.
BMW Oracle has taken holders Alinghi, whose club is SNG, to court in New York, arguing that the Swiss defender chose an illegitimate yacht club to be the lead challenger for the next America's Cup.
Justice Herman Cahn heard the case in October and the teams expected him to rule in a few weeks.
If he decides in favor of BMW Oracle, whose club is GGYC, Alinghi could have to race the US syndicate one-on-one in catamarans next summer, forcing other teams to wait to challenge the winner.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cup organizer ACM said: "All the elements required to proceed with a successful competition in 2009 are now in place... However, the possibility of a race for the Cup in 2009 is impaired because of the negative effects that Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) lawsuit is having on sponsors and other arrangements for the event.
"SNG has therefore required GGYC to withdraw its lawsuit by November 16 at 1700 hours, New York time, and to clarify its position with regard to its participation in the 33rd America's Cup."
Any teams wanting to race Alinghi in the 2009 America's Cup must lodge their challenge by December 15, ACM also said.
Alinghi has said BMW Oracle will be welcomed to the field of challengers for the next Cup as long as they drop the case.
Teams and ACM have said the lawsuit is creating uncertainty that makes it hard for them to sign up sponsors for an event which last time ran at over $60 million for most teams.
So far five syndicates have signed up to challenge Alinghi for sailing's most prestigious prize - Spain's Desafio Espanol, Team New Zealand, Britain's Team Origin, South African Shosholoza and United Internet Team Germany.
All the teams are due to hold warm-up races next year with the knockout rounds for the America's Cup scheduled to start in May 2009. The Cup match is due to start on July 18, 2009.
Agencies
(China Daily 11/15/2007 page23)
