Alinghi opts for a May 2010 America's Cup Match in Multihulls

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.Com on 24 Apr 2009
Societe Nautique de Geneve and the new Challenger of Record,Golden Gate Yacht Club met for the first time in Geneva overnight NZT.

The outcomes of the meeting were that the offer of a Multi Challenger event in AC33 class yachts was rejected by the Defender along with other proposals made two days ago by Golden Gate YC.

Instead the Defender opted for a Multihull Match, and set a date two months later than that stipulated by the New York Supreme Court.

Following the meeting the following statements were issued:

Golden Gate Yacht Club:

Valencia, Spain, 23 April 2009 – A delegation from the Golden Gate Yacht Club and its team, BMW ORACLE Racing, met in Geneva today with representatives of SNG/Alinghi.

GGYC’s clear and straight-forward proposals for a fully competitive, conventional America’s Cup in monohulls were rejected by SNG, who insisted on a regatta in large multihulls under the Deed of Gift ('DoG').

SNG asserted that the Deed of Gift match with GGYC would take place in May 2010. This is in defiance of the recent decision and orders of the New York courts that the DoG match take place in February 2010.

GGYC has asked SNG to put their position in writing, and hopes to have another meeting with SNG soon to clarify issues related to the DoG match.

GGYC is disappointed that SNG categorically rejected our proposals for a conventional regatta. GGYC will continue to negotiate in good faith as Challenger of Record to put the America’s Cup back on the water as soon as possible.

Societe Nautique de Geneve

Geneva, Switzerland - (2009-04-23)

At a meeting today in Geneva, the America's Cup defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), confirmed that it accepts the Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) challenge for the 33rd America's Cup and informed representatives of the American yacht club that its team, Alinghi, will be ready to race their 90x90ft boat (as stated in the GGYC Notice of Challenge) in 2010.

SNG expressed its willingness for the challenger selection to be open to other teams and has encouraged GGYC to do so by offering them more time for teams to prepare if necessary. It was also stated that the SNG would be flexible and ready to discuss other terms of the 33rd America's Cup such as race format, venue or calendar.

It is not known if further meetings are planned.