A New York judge on Friday refused to hear the latest salvo in sailing’s biggest feud, setting the stage for the running of the sport’s most prestigious race.
This content was published on
1 minute
Justice Shirley Kornreich said she would not hear a complaint filed by California-based BMW Oracle Racing against Switzerland’s Alinghi before the 33rd running of the America’s Cup.
Barring any successful legal challenges, the Swiss and Americans will begin their best-of-three showdown on February 8 off Valencia, Spain.
BMW Oracle had challenged Alinghi’s sails, which are made in Switzerland but from material produced in the United States. The rules state that the boat of each team must be built in its respective country.
At issue on Friday was the interpretation of that rule.
BMW Oracle’s vessel employs a massive 58-metre-high rigid wing in place of a sail.
The Société Nautique de Genève, Alinghi’s sponsoring club, said earlier it would quit the race had its sail been found to be in violation of the Deed of Gift, a 19th century document that governs the race.
Alinghi is owned by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli; BMW Oracle is controlled by Silicon Valley tycoon Larry Ellison.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss threaten to forfeit America’s Cup
This content was published on
Fred Meyer of Société Nautique de Genève, Alinghi’s backing yacht club, said on Thursday the Swiss team would withdraw from the contest if a New York judge finds the Swiss team has violated the Deed of Gift, a 19th century document that governs the race. At issue is an interpretation of the rules that stipulate…
This content was published on
The decision by Justice Shirley Kornreich of the New York State Supreme Court is a blow to two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland. Alinghi picked the Gulf port, part of the United Arab Emirates, for their February showdown against challenger BMW Oracle Racing. Kornreich said her decision was based on the stipulation in the 1887…
This content was published on
Bertarelli, quoted by the Associated Press, also denied that the ongoing legal dispute between Alinghi, the defending champion of the America’s Cup, and challenger Oracle Racing has damaged the reputation of the competition. The Alinghi team on Thursday showed journalists around Alinghi 5, which has an engine that the United States Oracle Racing team says…
This content was published on
BMW Oracle Racing, its challenger for the running of the 33rd America’s Cup, sailing’s most prestigious race, has asked a New York court to reject Alinghi’s choice of venue for the race. Geneva-based Alinghi, the two-time defending champion, picked Ras al-Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the venue…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.