Team New Zealand deny interest in rival America's Cup circuit

by Richard Gladwell on 19 Jan 2011
A spokesman for Team New Zealand has denied any involvement or relationship with the group said to be organising an alternative monohull competition to the 34th America's Cup.

The story, first published in a Spanish newspaper has been doing the rounds in Europe and USA, and names four teams as being involved - Sir Keith Mills (TeamOrigin), Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi), Patrizio Bertelli (Luna Rossa Prada) and Grant Dalton (New Zealand Team ).

The story was dismissed by Team New Zealand as being many months old, and predated the announcements by Oracle Racing and the Defender of the America's Cup as to the venue and other basics associated with the 34th America's Cup.

The concept was that the AC90 genre of yachts, devised by Alinghi in conjunction with the Challengers (during 2009) would be used for the new competition.

There has been no published comment from the other teams involved.

The first two (Alinghi and Team Origin) have said they will not compete in the 34th America's Cup. Luna Rossa have not made a statement of intent either way. Team New Zealand have indicated they are doing due diligence and trying to raise sufficient finance and sponsorship to mount a credible campaign for the 2013 Match.

Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand have entered the 2011 Extreme 40 series to be conducted in 40ft catamarans, as have Alinghi who are one of the principals of that circuit. TeamOrigin are believed to be competing on the Audi MedCup circuit to be sailed in TP52 monohulls n 2011

The original story can be http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/01/17/nautica/1295254542.html!viewed_here