Monday, December 3, 2007

The Fall of Rome


Jim Farmer QC (left) with Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Team New Zealand's legal expert, Jim Farmer QC, is picking that Alinghi will agree to a 'conventional' America's Cup regatta in 2009 with a full complement of challengers.
The Swiss holders have suffered two telling blows in recent days - the winning of the case in the New York Supreme Court by BMW Oracle and Grant Dalton's revelation that Emirates Team New Zealand have a claim for up to $50 million against Alinghi if the regatta is postponed past 2009.
Both matters have seen a significant power shift in the America's Cup with Alinghi now highly likely to get back round the negotiating table with BMW Oracle rather than appealing against the court decision and rather than taking on Oracle in a head-to-head duel in 90ft trimarans in October 2008.
"Alinghi said before the court case that they would not appeal and I have seen nothing which suggests otherwise," said Farmer.-http://www.nzherald.co.nz/