Next America's Cup turned on its head
Relevant offers
A Spanish yacht club will be the official challenger in the next America's Cup yachting race, a New York appeals court has ruled, handing a key legal victory to defending champions Alinghi.
The ruling, issued by the New York State Appellate Division, reversed a lower court's ruling declaring a challenge by the Spanish club, Real Federation Espanola de Vela (CNEV), invalid in favor of a challenge by the US-based BMW Oracle.
"We hold that CNEV was organized as a yacht club at the time of its challenge," the appeals panel wrote in the 3-2 decision.
Swiss-based Alinghi, sponsored by Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) yacht club, has sparred for months with BMW Oracle, owned by Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, over how, when and where the prestigious race should be held.
"The Appellate Division's decision is a significant victory for both SNG and sailing fans throughout the world as it permits the America's Cup to proceed as a multi-challenger series as originally contemplated with CNEV as the Challenger of Record," Alinghi lawyer Barry Ostrager said in a statement.
The challenger of record is able to name the type of boat to be used for the race.
"We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling. We will now be taking legal advice and considering the next step," Tom Ehman, spokesman for the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which sponsors BMW Oracle, said in a statement.
At issue before the appeals court were rulings by Judge Herman Cahn declaring BMW Oracle the challenger of record and saying the America's Cup should be held in March 2009 in Valencia, Spain, or at another location chosen by Alinghi.
A ruling by Cahn in May set up a best-of-three, head-to-head series for the next edition of yachting's biggest prize rather than the traditional multi-boat competition to determine a challenger.
Alinghi appealed the rulings because it preferred a later race date, a separate challenger of record and restoring America's Cup tradition by allowing a larger of field of challengers.
Alinghi has argued that the proposed duel between Alinghi and BMW Oracle would unfairly exclude 10 other teams.
-Reuters
Sponsored links
All Blacks beat England in dour test
Henry calls All Blacks win 'best game on tour'
Williams confident of luring Tiger to NZ again
All Whites squad to divvy up $4m
Wallabies humiliated by Scotland
Shane Cameron eyes Aussie bash
Triple treat cashes up ailing NZRU
Milestones fall as All Blacks backline sparks
Fouhy' to paddle through to London 2012
NZ keen to take vivre from la France
Man dead following bar fight in Whakatane
Concern over missing South Auckland teen and baby
Auckland Santa's facelift unveiled
Henry calls All Blacks win 'best game on tour'
Williams confident of luring Tiger to NZ again
Bear attacks as man leaps into enclosure
Teacher has baby with 17-year-old student
El Nino puffs up for a big blow
Wallabies humiliated by Scotland
Martinborough pinot strikes gold
All Blacks beat England in dour test
Police dob in drink driver to Air NZ
Wallabies humiliated by Scotland
Teacher has baby with 17-year-old student
Shyla's a purr-fect little mum
Bitter MP seeks reconciliation
Nice Kiwi blokes - shame about the women
Griffin's moves biscuits to Fiji
$450,000 march is political manipulation
Cyclists gone but their trash lingers
Mall campaign pays for 'protesters'
Playing chicken with the markets
How do you think the first test between the Black Caps and Pakistan will end?