Team NZ to withdraw legal action against Alinghi

[Source: Emirates Team New Zealand] Emirates Team New Zealand says it will withdraw its legal action against Alinghi to ensure the success of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

ETNZ managing director Grant Dalton said today that Alinghi has committed to sending a competitive team to Auckland if the legal proceedings were withdrawn.

“I have talked to Brad Butterworth tonight and have confirmed our position in writing.

“It is our view that this regatta - and Alinghi’s participation in it – is an important initiative towards repairing the harm that recent events have done to yacht racing at this level.

“For that reason we are prepared to respond positively to Alinghi’s commitment to the regatta by meeting its condition of discontinuing our proceedings.”

Dalton said the regatta promised to be a big event for New Zealand. Louis Vuitton and team are well down the track in organising it. We have an obligation to the many organizations and individuals who are now working with us to do anything we can to ensure its total success.

“For obvious reasons the regatta would not be the same without Alinghi’s participation. For a start our sailing team would like nothing more than meeting Butterworth and his team on Auckland Harbour in January-February.

“Entries close on October 31 and we needed to give Alinghi time to get their entry in.”

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will be sailed from January 30 to February 14 2009.

Twenty three sailing teams have expressed an interest in competing and up to 12 teams can be accommodated.