Alinghi ready to hold America Cup duel in Valencia

The New York court ruled in April that the Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel next February.

America's Cup defender Alinghi of Switzerland is ready to stage its duel with Oracle in the Spanish port of Valencia in February, the venue and date sought by the US team, it said on Tuesday.

Alinghi said it took the decision after "unsuccessful discussions" with Oracle, represented by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) of San Francisco, over the site for the 33rd edition of yachting's premier event.

The team, whose home club is the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), said it has told New York Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich it can hold the three-leg duel with Oracle "in February 2010 in Valencia, which is the date and venue repeatedly requested by GGYC and previously ordered by the court."

Alinghi, which as defending champion is charged with choosing a venue, had originally sought to stage the event, scheduled to start February 8, in the Gulf emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.

But Kornreich ruled against the site, upholding a challenge by Oracle, which considered Ras al-Khaimah unsafe due to its proximity to Iran.

In talks with Oracle that began in New York at the weekend, Alinghi proposed "two alternative Southern Hemisphere venues: Proserpine/Airlie Beach and Townsville in Australia, where the weather conditions are suitable in February.

- While SNG confirms Valencia as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010, the offer to GGYC of an Australian venue for the same date remains on the table until 13 November 2009 provided GGYC agrees to withdraw all legal actions - it said.

There was no immediate response to the statement from Oracle, which has repeatedly called for the event to be staged in Valencia in February.

Alinghi skipper, Brad Butterworth, who participated in the discussions in New York, accused Oracle of seeking to further - delay the race because they are not ready.

- Originally they pushed for February when it was to their advantage; now they have to live with their choice of date. -

Alinghi and Oracle, owned respectively by Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli and American computer billionaire Larry Ellison, have been locked in a more than two-year legal battle over the next edition of the oldest event in international sport.

The New York 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.

In her ruling blocking Ras al-Khaimah, Kornreich said that under the Deed of Gift, the 19th century rules that govern the trophy, the America's Cup cannot be held in the Northern Hemisphere between November 1 and May 1.

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