I don't know how many people out there follow or are even interested in the Americas cup, But here in New Zealand there is a huge following, Maybe this is because the majority of teams consist of many New Zealanders, But news here this morning says that Team New Zealand is suing Swiss holders Alinghi for delaying the next regatta.The America's Cup has been in court for months since US team BMW Oracle claimed Alinghi set unfair rules for the next Cup with an illegitimate challenger. The New York Supreme Court ruled in favour of Oracle and Alinghi has appealed.
Team New Zealand, who lost last year's America's Cup to Alinghi in a thrilling 5-2 series in Valencia, laid the same charges at the Swiss team's door, saying the rules were "completely one-sided". Team New Zealand had also asked for financial compensation in the "tens of millions of euros" now that ACM has delayed the next America's Cup indefinitely.
Alinghi said they were disappointed by Team New Zealand's action, saying they were committed to getting the event back on track.
Team New Zealand challenged for the 33rd America's Cup on the condition it would be raced in 2009 in Valencia.Instead it is now locked in lawyers' offices and is unlikely to be raced before 2011, possibly after a head-to-head between Alinghi and BMW Oracle, depending on the outcome of that case.
Grant Dalton from team New Zealand said that not only did the delay mean teams had to stretch two-year budgets over three or four years but also that potential sponsors who were wowed by the 32nd America's Cup have been put off the event by all the bickering since. There's a lot of confusion. He has also said Alinghi could easily have avoided the delay by accepting a settlement BMW Oracle proposed after they won the first case and which was agreed by most of the other teams who had challenged for the next Cup.
While some America's Cup teams like Alinghi and BMW Oracle are backed by billionaires and spent more than 100 million Euros on the last Cup, others are fully reliant on sponsorship and work on as little as a tenth of the big boys' budget.
Its time to write the rules the way of every other sporting event at world cup status. Decide on boat length, Height etc and set a time that the Americas cup will take place. E.G Every 4 years just like the majority of the major sporting events world wide. Cut out all of this court room billionaire wins rubbish and get on with it.





I vote for more racing and less lawasuits.
ReplyDeleteAnd why are the Swiss so insistant on changing the rules every two months. If you want some series of races, form that separately - don't monkey around w/ the Cup. Leave a little tradition.