Alinghi plots course for Valencia again

Valencia will once again be home for Alinghi Keystone

The Swiss yachting syndicate Alinghi has chosen the Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia to host the 33rd America's Cup in 2009.

Alinghi successfully defended the Auld Mug trophy in Valencia when it beat Team New Zealand 5-2 in the 32nd competition, which ended earlier this month.

It was the first time that the race had been held in European waters since the original regatta in 1851.

Valencia had been considered a strong favourite after the successful staging of this year’s event and the enthusiastic backing of the local and regional governments.

The Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Monday that Valencia had agreed to pay about €105 million (SFr174.8 million) to stage the next event, €15 million more than for this year.

Popular venue

Despite problems with delays and postponements because of the wind, Valencia was a popular venue with the participating teams, and the state-of-the-art facilities won widespread praise.

Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, who is head of the Alinghi team, confirmed in Valencia on Wednesday that a new class of yachts would be used for the next America’s Cup.

The details would be established between now and October with the challengers, he said.

He indicated that two qualifying regattas would be organised in spring 2008 in Valencia and in autumn at a place in Europe to be determined, before the races that eliminate the challengers in 2009.

Bertarelli also announced that Team New Zealand had officially put forward its challenge on Wednesday.

Challenger of record

Three other syndicates had previously put in a bid – Team Origin of Britain, Team Shosholoza of South Africa and Desafio of Spain. Desafio has been named “challenger of record”, meaning that it is a privileged challenger.

The Spanish are the “challenger of record” as they were the first to challenge Alinghi after this year’s Swiss victory.

Bertarelli also criticised the “unacceptable” and “damaging” attitude of the United States syndicate Oracle, which through the Golden Gate Yacht Club last week filed a suit in New York State court seeking to replace Desafio as the official challenger for the next regatta.

The “challenger of record” negotiates the race format and rules with the defending winner on behalf of all challenging syndicates.

In the suit Golden Gate claimed that Desafio’s yacht club was an “invalid challenger” and that the Swiss yacht club was “engaging in self-dealing” by accepting the Spanish challenge.

The New York State court has jurisdiction to settle all disputes in the competition.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

Alinghi won the America’s Cup at its first attempt, beating Team New Zealand 5-0 in Auckland in 2003.
The Swiss brought the Auld Mug back to Europe for the first time in more than 150 years.
This year, Alinghi successfully defended its title, beating Team New Zealand 5-2 in Valencia.

Innovation

For the next America’s Cup, the yachts will be longer (27 metres compared with 24 metres today) and they will have a taller mast (40 metres compared with 33 metres today).

For these new yachts, the crew will have to include 20 or 21 men (17 at present).

According to Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth, the yachts will be “faster but also more difficult to handle”.

Another novelty: after the qualifying regattas, Alinghi can reserve the right to take part in the races that eliminate the challengers, the former Louis Vuitton Cup.