Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Is Alinghi Legal?

Statement
Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club Spokesperson

Valencia, December 22, 2009 – America’s Cup defender Société Nautique de
Genève has been asked if Alinghi 5 will meet the event’s nationality rules.
In a letter today to SNG, GGYC Commodore Marcus Young wrote, “We find the
Deed to be clear and unambiguous. It requires that the yacht, including its hull,
appendages, mast and sails, be constructed in the country of the club it
represents. We have gone to great lengths to comply with the Deed in all
respects, including ‘constructed-in-country,’ and expect that your Club will do so
as well.”

Alinghi 5 has been sailing continually with sails made at Minden, Nevada in the
USA.

Absent agreement on the constructed-in-country interpretation, the five-member
International Jury recently appointed by the International Sailing Federation
would be asked to rule on the matter.

Both yachts should come to the start “street-legal.” The sailing world expects this,
and wants to know before the Match is sailed, not after. Having the Jury in place
allows sailing matters to be dealt with by sailing experts.

GGYC’s objective is that the on-the-water result of the 33rd Match be conclusive.
Any remaining contentious issues should be dealt with properly before the Match
is sailed. No one wants the outcome of the Match to have a question mark
hanging over it. http://www.bmworacleracing.com