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Alinghi rules out return to Auckland

NZPA - November 5, 2009, 6:42 am

Ernesto Bertarelli, president of Alinghi

Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi has apparently ruled out bringing the America's Cup back to Auckland if it cannot reverse a court veto of Gulf state Ras al Khaimah as the venue for the next America's Cup.

Britain's Independent newspaper has reported a source in the syndicate as saying it absolutely refuses to sail again in Auckland -- one of two venues highlighted last month as alternatives to Ras al Khaimah (RAK) .

Justice Shirley Kornreich ruled in the New York Supreme Court that RAK did not comply with the Deed of Gift, the 19th-century document that governs the Cup, because the deed rules out competition in the Northern Hemisphere from November to May 1.

She proposed that Societe Nautique de Geneve could select Valencia, which had met both team's approval despite being in the Northern Hemisphere, "or any other location" that complied with the deed of gift.

The judge has set up a panel of three "wise men", including Alinghi's nominee, New Zealander Graham McKenzie, and Oracle's Bryan Willis, of Britain, plus a third agreed by the two -- Australian David Tillett -- to resolve five specific points.

Alinghi has insisted that it is also still seeking to find a Southern Hemisphere venue to comply with rules drawn up in an 1887 trust deed.

But speculation this could be New Zealand was contemptuously dismissed by a senior member of the Swiss syndicate saying: "Auckland is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere we would never go," the Independent reported.

Team New Zealand's lawyer, Jim Farmer QC, last month told the New Zealand Herald newspaper there was a possibility that the court could eventually decide to send the Cup back to Auckland.

But the Independent said Alinghi now wants the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court to uphold an earlier ruling that it has freedom of choice for the staging of the event next February.

Ras al Khaimah is one of the seven states comprising the United Arab Emirates.

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nharlick 12:45pm Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Sad that we are witnessing the demise of the Americas Cup. Because that's what it is. Roll on the Louis Vuitton Series!
Gary 10:42am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Rich boys and their toys, does anyone know the reason he doesn't want to race here?
carolynjune 10:14am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Drama Queens ...
margaret.carroll 10:03am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
We don't need the likes of them here ....... what's his reason is he afraid the other side will win. he's ruined the cup anyway nobody would be interested . Stay in your own back yard we don't need the likes of you .
globe_zz 09:27am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
They should turn court proceedings into a sport. Then these fullas would have all the fun in the world! I think they do more of that than actual sailing!
Lynda 08:48am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
'A lingering' bad taste in your mouth!
Auldphart 08:37am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Let's face it, the America's Cup always was a billionaires plaything. The "billionaires" in NZ were the government and local politicians and the money belonged to the taxpayer. That money might have been useful now. They can keep the America's Cup. Raise ...
ben.carroll 08:26am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Although the cash flow would be nice.. we don't need anymore people like that here. Thanks for coming!
mgdavies 08:14am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Geez imagine having an ego as big as HIS check-book. Keep the flamin thing.
mgdavies 08:13am Thursday 05th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Geez imagine having an ego as big as HIS check-book. Keep the flamin thing.