Alinghi makes its case

[Source: Alinghi] America’s Cup holder, Alinghi, presents arguments on invalidity of GGYC challenge.

(New York, 23 January 2008) New York State Supreme Court Justice Herman Cahn heard arguments today over whether the Golden Gate Yacht Club has put forth a valid Deed of Gift challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup to its current holder, Alinghi of the Société Nautique de Genève.

“We were glad to make our points and found the Court receptive to our arguments,” said Lucien Masmejan, lead counsel for the SNG. “We look forward to a court order properly addressing the issue of the validity of the GGYC challenge.”

In a letter submitted to the court, the International Sailing Federation confirmed that a keelyacht cannot be a multihull, supporting SNG’s consistent position that the GGYC challenge is invalid.

A result in SNG’s favour would put the 33rd America’s Cup back on track with a multi-challenge event in 2011 in Valencia, Spain. As Defender of the America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift gives Alinghi and SNG, as trustee, the serious responsibility of preserving the integrity of this world class sporting event