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A resolution to the legal gridlock paralysing plans to stage the next America’s Cup is still a long way off judged by the latest comments from warring parties Alinghi and Oracle.
Alingi’s Swiss backer Ernesto Bertarelli confirmed Sunday his wish to see a conclusion to the interminable row being played out in the courtrooms of New York.
But Oracle’s New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts told AFP that the much sought after deal with Alinghi could only be reached if the holders put in place “fair” rules which did not favour the defenders.
This question of equality is at the heart of the dispute surrounding the oldest prize in sport after Alinghi announced that the 33rd edition, scheduled originally for Valencia in 2009, would be held under different rules.
Oracle argued that the new format unfairly favoured the Swiss team and took the matter to court.
As things stand a legal victory for Oracle will see them in a head-to-head with Alinghi in Valencia in a trimaran race.
Alinghi, which favours a multi-regatta with mono-hulls in 2010, said Wednesday that if it lost its appeal in the New York court next year, it would be forced to take part in the multi-hulled duel against its American foe.
Both boats say they want to avoid the face-off, with Alinghi last month announcing its hope of a 2010 Cup using a new and faster but “significantly cheaper” class of yacht than the AC90 class which competed in the 2007 competition.
Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth described the stalemate as “ridiculous” and plans to try and open up a fresh dialogue with his fellow Kiwi Coutts who won the 2003 Cup for Alinghi in New Zealand before falling out with Bertarelli.
A meeting of potential challengers is scheduled for Geneva on Tuesday with Bertarelli saying that “everyone’s on board” except Oracle, who persist in wanting to “destroy the event” and “win by default” in the New York courts.
The Swiss billionaire says he’s ready to meet face to face with Oracle backer Larry Ellison “tomorrow or whenever” – the two men met in September without any breakthrough.
Coutts, on being told Bertarelli’s offer to meet Ellison again, told AFP: “Ok, I’m going to ask Larry to call him”.
According to Coutts there are only “nine or 10 points to sort out” to get the 33rd America’s Cup back on water but Bertarelli dismissed that notion.
“That means absolutely nothing, it’s like returning to the Moon when we’re looking at Mars. Today’s boats date back 25 years and we need new ones,” which he reckons will require a budget of 20 million euros, a far cry from the 100 million euros ($A190 million) required for teams competing in 2007.
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