In response to the most recent decision by the New York Appellate Court, both BMW Oracle and Switzerland’s Team Alinghi have issued statements confirming that they accept the ruling that Ras Al Khaimah is unsuitable as a venue and that the races will take place in Valencia instead.
Alinghi’s club, Société Nautique de Geneve (SNG), said “Société Nautique de Genève accepts this decision and Alinghi is looking forward to racing for the America’s Cup on the water in Valencia, Spain, in February 2010.”
Rules laid down in the Deed of Gift specify that the location for the 33rd America’s Cup must either be south of the Equator, or at the defender’s yacht club. Team Alinghi is Swiss, therefore Valencia is deemed suitable.
Some more technical details were clarified during the hearing, the court upholding its decision that rudders will not be included in the load water-line measurement calculation for the yachts. This must have been a relief to BMW Oracle, who would have run the risk of seeing their boat being disqualified if the opposite decision had been reached.
BMW’s sponsoring club, Golden Gate Yacht Club, stated that some issues still remain to be fully resolved, but did register its satisfaction with the fact that a “common sense” approach had prevailed with regard to next year’s competition. Team Alinghi was less impressed by the outcome, complaining that BMW Oracle had prevailed in every aspect of the case.
Chances are that Team Alinghi will be unlikely to raise any further objections though, meaning that now the valencianos can start to prepare for the America’s Cup teams to visit the city in the first half of 2010.
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