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Sail-World.com : Alinghi to Scuttlebutt: Come in, please!

Alinghi to Scuttlebutt: Come in, please!

'Alinghi SUI-100 leaves snowy Switzerland en route to Valencia' Ivo Rovira /Alinghi Click Here to view large photo

Earlier this week, Sailing Scuttlebutt ran a poll on its readers at to whether they thought the Defender of the 33rd America's Cup was required to be constructed completely in Switzerland. Or, whether just the hull only should be constructed and Alinghi could 'go shopping' for the rest around the world.

Such are the PR stakes in the current America's Cup, that when the poll started to go for the full kit to be constructed in Switzerland (as required by the Deed of Gift), the following letter was sent, purportedly from Societ Nautique de Geneve/Alinghi in an attempt to stem the tide.

It did that, turning the result in the Swiss favour with the 'Hull only' option coming out on top. And making the poll do a U-turn in about a day.

But what does it really mean?

START - Translated

Dear Members,

In connection with the case Alinghi-Oracle, a controversy has emerged in the USA on whether Alinghi should build all the components of his boat for the Defense of the 33rd America's Cup in Switzerland, and this contradicts the rule which wanted in previous editions, only the hull and its main components are manufactured in the country of origin team.

An American website (Scuttlebutt) has organized an online survey to prove that its readers support the idea widely supported by BMW Oracle, Alinghi that should build the whole boat in Switzerland, which potentially puts our team danger.

To support our team, we urge all supporters and friends of Alinghi and our club to participate in the online voting that ends tonight, Wednesday, May 7 to 21:00.

To do this:

1. Click on the following link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0505/
2. Select the next option: JUST THE HULL
3. Click on: SUBMIT VOTE

Only one vote per computer can be recorded.

Already thank you for your commitment and support your team and your Yacht Club.

Yours sincerely,

And the French original:

De : Société Nautique de Genève - Secrétariat [mailto:admin@nautique.org]
Envoyé : mercredi, 7. mai 2008 14:41
À : Société Nautique de Genève - Secrétariat
Objet : URGENT - Message aux membres de la SNG

Chers Membres,

Dans le cadre de l'affaire Alinghi-Oracle, une controverse a vu le jour aux Etats-Unis sur la question de savoir si Alinghi devrait construire l'ensemble des composants de son bateau pour la Défense de la 33e America's Cup en Suisse, et ce en contradiction avec la règle qui voulait, lors des précédentes éditions, que seule la coque et ses principaux composants soient fabriqués dans le pays d'origine du team.

Un site web américain (Scuttlebutt) a organisé un sondage en ligne pour prouver que ses lecteurs soutiennent l'idée, largement favorable à BMW Oracle, selon laquelle Alinghi devrait construire l'ensemble de son bateau en Suisse, ce qui met potentiellement notre équipe en danger.

Afin de soutenir notre team, nous incitons vivement tous les supporters et amis d'Alinghi et de notre club à participer à cette votation en ligne qui se termine ce soir, Mercredi 7 mai à 21:00.

Pour ce faire:

1. Cliquez sur le lien suivant: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0505/
2. Sélectionnez l'option suivante: JUST THE HULL
3. Cliquez sur: SUBMIT VOTE

Un seul vote par ordinateur peut être enregistré.

D'ores et déjà merci pour votre engagement et votre soutien à votre équipe et à votre Yacht Club.

Avec nos meilleures salutations,

Le secrétariat.

Société Nautique de Genève
Secrétariat
Port Noir
1223 Cologny
Tél : 0041 (0)22 707 05 00
Fax : 0041 (0)22 707 05 09
admin@nautique.org

END

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World

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11:06 AM Fri 9 May 2008 GMT

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