(07-26-2007) - (July 25, 2007) Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli had some strong words today for Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle Racing as he announced that Valencia, Spain, would host the 33rd America's Cup contest in 2009. Bertarelli also revealed a few specific details about the competition for the next Cup. But aside from that the main purpose of the press conference seemed to be lauding the performance of Valencia, and Alinghi, in 2007—mainly by the numerous Spanish politicos in attendance—and launching a few return salvos at Ellison and his legal challenge of the protocol for the 33rd Cup. While Bertarelli again stated that he has no desire to negotiate with Ellison, and
emphasized his support for Desafío Español as the challenger of record, he outlined a few tweaks to the format unveiled two days after the end of the 32nd America's Cup.
* The new rule for the regatta will be released by Oct. 31, two months earlier than the Dec. 31 deadline set at the initial announcement of the protocol.
* Teams will be able to build two hulls for the next Cup. However, no team will be able to sail more than one boat at any given time, eliminating extra crew and two-boat testing.
* Prior to their defense in the America's Cup Match, Alinghi will be able to participate in the Challenger trials through the semifinals, or until they are eliminated, whichever comes first.
* ACM will run two regattas in 2008 in Version 5 America's Cup Class boats. The first will be Valencia in July; the second will be somewhere else in Europe in the fall.
* The 33rd America's Cup, and the challenger selection series, will take place from May through July in 2009.
* Team New Zealand has become the fourth team to challenge Alinghi for the Cup, following Desafío Español (ESP), Team Shosholoza (RSA), and Team Origin (GBR).
Bertarelli did not reply to a question at the press conference as to whether the defender would accept a challenge from Ellison under the current Protocol in the event that the NY courts do not uphold Ellison’s lawsuit. --
Sailing World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yrb5ht
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