After fighting in court for more than two years over rules, dates and ports, the bitter America’s Cup rivals heading for a February showdown in giant multihulls are now tussling over sails.
Challenger BMW Oracle Racing of California has questioned whether defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland plans to use sails built in Nevada in what the Americans say is a violation of the 19th-century document governing the event.
Marcus Young, commodore of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), said in a letter sent on Tuesday to Alinghi’s backing club, Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), that the Deed of Gift was clear in requiring that the yacht, including its hull, appendages, mast and sails, be constructed in the country of the club it represents.
“Among other possible issues, it appears that your team intends to use sails constructed at Minden, Nev., in the USA,” Young wrote to SNG vice commodore Fred Meyer. “We believe this would constitute a direct infringement of the clear terms of the Deed.”
Young asked that SNG advise GGYC within five days if it had a different interpretation, “so that this issue can be resolved in a timely manner without delaying the Match, and to avoid post-match litigation.”
In a separate statement, GGYC spokesman Tom Ehman said that absent agreement on the constructed-in-country interpretation, a 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,’” Ehman said. “The sailing world expects this, and wants to know before the match is sailed, not after.”
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