Battle for America’s Cup
By Christina Bohnstengel
Earlier this month, the New York State Court of Appeals appointed the Golden Gate Yacht Club and its BMW Oracle team as the Challenger of Record for the 33rd America’s Cup.
This has led many to put the pressure on Ernesto Bertalli, the current cup holder with Team Alinghi from Switzerland who was replaced as the Challenger of Record with the court decision. In an open letter to both Bertalli and BMW Oracle’s Larry Ellison, from all of the commodores of all the yacht clubs ever to hold the title, the dueling duo is urged to negotiate together for a fair and equitable multi-challenger competition.
“We believe that such an event, as opposed to a Deed of Gift defence, is in the greater interest of the sport of sailing in general and of members of the broad America’s Cup community, who have invested their time and resources to make the event a true international competition of the highest order,” it says.
Oracle reports that it is taking positive action and that negotiations are already underway to arrange a traditional regatta with all 18 challengers, though Alinghi would not confirm these reports.
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