Alinghi Announces Protocol For The 32nd Am Cup

Alinghi Announces Protocol For The 32nd Americas Cup

AUCKLAND - March 4, 2003 - During the press conference that took place at the Alinghi base, executive director of the Swiss challenge, Michel Bonnefous, presented with Russell Coutts the principal elements of the protocol, which will govern the next America's Cup. In winning the America's Cup, Alinghi has acquired the title of "Defender." The "Challenger of Record" (Challenger of reference) is Oracle BMW Racing. The Swiss team wishes to apply to the event the formula that made Team Alinghi successful.

As such, the emphasis will be placed on the sporting competition and remaining open to the general public. "This implies that a site will be chosen where the weather conditions can be adapted to such an event and where the public will be able to fully experience the event," said Russell Coutts.

To ensure the fairness of the competition, the race management will be designated on the basis of the agreement between the defender and the commission of challengers, for the duration of the competition. Michel Bonnefous also announced that from now on, a single and unique organisation will take authority over the challenger series and the America's Cup as well as the marketing and television rights.

The new protocol greatly relaxes the nationality rules as much for the members of the team as for who is constructing the boat. "The goal of simplifying the nationality rule is to diminish the costs and thereby make the competition accessible to more challengers," declared Michel Bonnefous.

Concerning the date of the competition, the sporting calendar scheduled for 2006 (the winter Olympic Games in Turin and the football World Cup in Germany) will probably prompt the organizers to choose the year 2007.

When the location is chosen, which is the object of all speculation, Michel Bonnefous has affirmed that it will be chosen on the basis of a carefully elaborated multi criteria analysis. A number of candidates have already applied and the Swiss syndicate proposes that all interested cities should contact him via the address, mailto:venue@alinghi.com The location will be formally announced before December 15, 2003.

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