Americas Cup
After successfully defending the 32nd America’s Cup Alinghi and Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) announced that the challenger of record for the next cup in 2009 was to be the newly-formed Spanish yacht club Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEV). CNEV agreed that Alinghi could set the protocol for the challengers for the 33rd America’s Cup, including the design of a new 90” boat. In return, Alinghi agreed to keep the event in Valencia, giving the defender unprecedented control and advantages.
BMW Oracle Racing (BOR) and The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) challenged Alinghi in the New York Supreme Court, saying that CNEV did not meet the requirements to be a challenger as defined by the deed of gift of the cup.
At the end of November 2007 Judge Cahn ruled that CNEV was not a valid challenger and ordered Alinghi to negotiate with the Americans who would be the new Challengers of Record. If no mutual agreement could be reached, then the judge would tell both parties what they should do, and this is expected mid January 2008. It is anticipated that the outcome will be a “default match” sailed between the two parties under the old deed.
However the judge has not ruled on the timing, this might be 10 months from the original Oracle challenge, which would mean a race in July 2008, or 10 months from his court order, which probably would be in October 2008 (to which Oracle has agreed.) This could be in catamarans 90 feet in length.
Following this ruling SNG announced that although they were disappointed with the decision and would naturally investigate the option of appeal, they would seek to work closely with GGYC in order to salvage the 33rd America’s Cup. It would appear that this was purely lip-service as from all accounts there has been a distinct lack of communication from SNG with either GGYC or any of the former challengers.
A Default match in the much discussed 90 foot cats is on the cards; or so we all thought!
In mid December 2007 SNG’s newly appointed lawyers, wrote to the court claiming the following:
1. GGYC has not established that it has made a valid challenge
2. Even if GGYC is the Challenger of Record, the October 2008 date would not work in the location that has been mutually agreed.
3. The NYSC should not set a date without a full appreciation of the “logistical nightmares” contained within the GGYC’s proposal.
The result of this continued uncertainty and latest missive from SNG is that most teams have reduced all their activities in Valencia as they no longer expect to challenge for the 33rd Cup. On the 14th of January we will find out what Judge Cahn’s conclusion on the form of the 33rd America’s Cup will take, but we will not have heard the last from either party. It is even possible that SNG and GGYC will agree to reinstate the original plans in Valencia, so catching out those teams who are not well advanced with designs for the new America’s Cup 90ft class of boat.
All we can suggest is that members interested in the America’s Cup “watch this space” as we update you as the situation develops. In the meantime out partners in TEAMORIGIN have issued a press release regarding their current position. To read this click here