Alinghi proposes Australia as America's Cup venue

Alinghi - proposes to stage the 33rd America’s Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere.

Swiss defender Alinghi on Thursday offered to hold the next edition of the America's Cup in eastern Australia in a bid to resolve its legal dispute over a venue with US challenger Oracle.

Alinghi - proposes to stage the 33rd America’s Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, in compliance with the Deed of Gift - the 19th century rules that govern the trophy, it said in a statement.

- This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of Oracle is to race for the America’s Cup on the water...

- A specific race course in the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Australia, with weather conditions suitable for racing in February, will be announced promptly should (Oracle) accept this offer and cease their legal strategy. -

Alinghi said that its first choice for its three-leg duel with Oracle, scheduled to start February 8, 2010, had been the Gulf emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, but it had comprised "in order to achieve a match in February" and "unlock 33rd America's Cup."

New York Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich last month ruled that the event cannot take place in Ras al-Khaimah, upholding a challenge by Oracle against the venue chosen by Alinghi.

She said that under the Deed of Gift, the America's Cup cannot be held in the Northern Hemisphere between November 1 and May 1.

However, Kornreich made an exception by allowing the race to be held in Valencia, the Spanish northern Mediterranean port where Alinghi won the last America's Cup in 2007.

Alinghi, whose crew has been training since August on its giant catamaran in Ras al-Khaimah, has appealed that decision.

Alinghi and Oracle have been locked in a more than two-year legal battle over the next edition of yachting's most prestigious event.

The New York Supreme Court ruled in April that the Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel next February instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta with several teams.

However, the two sides remained in dispute over the venue.

- The east coast of Australia offers several locations with ideal sailing conditions for the best-of-three match - Alinghi said Thursday.

- A venue in this region would be approximately two and a half weeks away by ship from Oracle’s base in San Diego, while Alinghi's voyage from Ras al-Khaimah would take approximately three weeks. -