Sailing community
disappointed by further delays in getting the race back on the
water.
Earlier this week the
Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court ruled in favour of
the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) declaring Club Náutico Español
de Vela (CNEV) the rightful Challenger of Record for the 33rd
America’s Cup and denying the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) this
status.
After wasting more than a year in litigation and losing arguments,
BMW Oracle has gone to court for the second time to force its
strategy of eliminating numerous America’s Cup teams entered as
legitimate challengers.
Brad Butterworth, team skipper of Alinghi and four-time America’s
Cup winner, comments: “I’m disappointed that given the opportunity
for a multi-challenger competition as a result of the Appellate
Court decision, BMW Oracle has chosen to further delay the 33rd
America’s Cup.”
SNG and CNEV have already made plans to organise the most
competitive and spectator friendly America's Cup challenger series
in history and that despite BMW Oracle’s unsuccessful year-long
attempt to preclude competition and turn the America's Cup into a
two team duel. BMW Oracle is now attempting to further delay and
frustrate the conduct of the America's Cup by filing a frivolous,
but time consuming appeal.
BMW Oracle was unable to advance to the final round of the America's
Cup in the 31st and 32nd events, having been eliminated in the
challenger series on each occasion. SNG and the entire sailing
community is offended by BMW Oracle’s attempts to accomplish through
expensive litigation initiatives what it has never been able to
achieve on the water, which is to be a finalist in the America's
Cup.
SNG, by contrast, won the 31st America's Cup by winning the
challenger series and defeating the then Cup holder and then
successfully defended the trophy in the 32nd America's Cup. SNG
seeks to defend the Cup against the opponent who proves the
strongest by winning the challenger series on the water. When given
the opportunity for a regatta against the Defender Alinghi, BMW
Oracle clearly demonstrated its intent to win through legal
manoeuvering rather than accept competing fairly on the water.