Friday, December 14, 2007

Coutts calls for 'clarity' from Alinghi

DUBAI - Russell Coutts called on his former team Alinghi to clarify their intentions for the next America's Cup before thinking about ambitious revamps of sport's oldest running competition.
Ernesto Bertarelli, owner of Swiss Cup holders Alinghi, proposed radical changes to the event last week after losing a legal challenge to Coutts' new team, BMW Oracle of the United States over arrangements for the 33rd America's Cup. The next regatta was originally scheduled for Valencia in 2009.
"We need an answer now, yes or no to an America's Cup in Valencia in 2009," Coutts told Reuters by telephone from the Dubai Gold Cup, the last leg of the 2007 championship of the new RC 44 class that he started.
"Maybe he has a long-term vision, but we've been asking for clarity about what's happening now.
"A lot of teams are gearing up for Valencia. We need a decision. We need to know what boats we are racing and where we are racing," said the three-times America's Cup-winning skipper and Olympic gold medallist. -http://www.nzherald.co.nz