America´s Cup training resumes as weather improves

The two yachts that will contest the America's Cup next month took to the water for the first time in five days.

The two yachts that will contest the America's Cup here next month took to the water for the first time in five days on Thursday after rough weather had left them stranded in port.

The massive trimaran of US challenger Oracle -- featuring a 55-metre-high mast -- is scheduled to face Swiss defender Alinghi's huge catamaran in the Mediterranean port of Valencia over three legs from February 8-12 to decide the 33rd edition of yachting's most prestigious event.

The crews began training off Valencia more than a week ago, but strong winds and high waves had forced them to remain in port since Sunday.

But the weather cleared up Thursday, allowing both teams to spend around three hours on the water.

''We all need more time to train before the event but we will be ready for the 8th,'' said Frenchman Loick Peyron, who may take the helm of Alinghi 5 for the races, unless Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli does so himself.

Calmer weather would favour Alinghi's lighter boat

''Both teams would be better with more time,'' said New Zealander Russell Coutts, the skipper of Oracle's USA 17, which will have Australia's James Spithill at the helm.

Coutts and Peyron acknowleged that calmer weather would favour Alinghi's lighter boat but stiff winds would give Oracle the edge.

Concerns had already been raised about holding the event at the site in mid-winter, when it risks being disrupted or delayed by rough weather.

Continuing legal procedures in New York have added to the uncertainty over the showdown.

The Supreme Court of the State of New York is to decide later Thursday if it will consider a challenge by Oracle that accused Alinghi of infringing nationality rules by allegedly using US-made sails for its catamaran.

Alinghi has said the sails were made in Switzerland.

Alinghi could pull out of the event if the court rules in favour of Oracle

If the court does not make a ruling before February 8, Oracle has said it will take part ''under protest'' and warned that the result could be overturned.

Alinghi has also hinted that it could pull out of the event if the court rules in favour of Oracle.

Oracle, which is representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) of San Francisco, denied it was seeking to postpone the event with its latest legal case.

- GGYC is not seeking to delay the race. It is ready and eager to begin the match on February 8 - it said in a statement on Wednesday.

- It is not trying to disqualify (Alinghi's) yacht, that is why it is seeking to have this issue resolved now, before the race - it added.

Alinghi and Oracle -- owned respectively by Swiss biotech billionaire Bertarelli and US software billionaire Larry Ellison -- have been arguing over the rules of the America's Cup since Alinghi won the last edition in Valencia in July 2007.

The New York court ruled in April that the next Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel between the two sides in February instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta involving several teams.