Alinghi to appeal over America's Cup venue

In light of Justice Kornreich’s clear ruling last week, this appeal is unwarranted and without meri - it said in a statement.

America's Cup defender Alinghi said on Tuesday that it would appeal against a US court ruling that had stifled attempts to hold the next round of yachting's most prestigious trophy in the United Arab Emirates.

Alinghi said in a statement that its home club in the Swiss city of Geneva, the Societe Nautique de Geneve, "has applied for an expedited appeal to avoid any delay to the February 2010 Deed of Gift Match."

US challenger Oracle, represented by the Golden Gate Yacht Club, responded that it was "disappointed" that Alinghi "has sought to de-rail the America’s Cup once again."

- In light of Justice Kornreich’s clear ruling last week, this appeal is unwarranted and without meri - it said in a statement.

New York Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich had ruled in Oracle's favour on October 30, judging that the event could not be held in the Gulf emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, the venue chosen by Alinghi.

She said that under the Deed of Gift, the 19th century rules that govern the oldest competition in international sport, the America's Cup cannot take place in the Northern Hemisphere between November 1 and May 1.

However, Kornreich made an exception by allowing the race series due on February 8, 2010 to be held in Valencia, the Spanish northern Mediterranean port where Alinghi won the last America's Cup in 2007.

Alinghi's appeal will argue that an earlier ruling in the New York Supreme Court stipulated that that the location of the match could "be in Valencia or any other location selected by the SNG."

The Swiss team argued that that ruling had led to its choice of Ras al-Khaimah, partly due to its suitable weather conditions and infrastructure.

The New York Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for Friday to consider whether it was safe for the duel to be held off Valencia in mid-winter. The hearing had originally been set for Wednesday.

Alinghi is open to holding the event in Valencia, but in May rather than February, a source close the syndicate told AFP.

But it could also decide to hold its face-off with Oracle at a site in the southern hemisphere.

In its statement, Oracle said Valencia "remains the best choice for everyone. Its facilities and infrastructure are proven and ready."

Alinghi and Oracle, owned respectively by Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli and American computer billionaire Larry Ellison, have been locked in a two-year legal battle over the Cup.

A New York court ruled in April that the 33rd America's Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel next February instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta with several teams.