SNG statement on challenger's Custom's House Registry hearing

[Source: Alinghi] Statement from the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) following today's hearing regarding the timing of delivery of Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) Custom's House Registry for their challenging vessel for the 33rd America's Cup:

"We are pleased that after almost two years of withholding the information, counsel for the GGYC disclosed in Court today that the boat BMW Oracle has been sailing for almost a year is USA, their America's Cup challenging vessel. USA must match the dimensions listed in GGYC's Certificate of Challenge. While the judge reserved her ruling on when the GGYC must issue the Custom's House Registry, we are confident that the Court will uphold the Deed of Gift. We are pleased to have a further degree of certainty regarding the GGYC boat and we look forward to the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010 in Ras al-Khaimah,” said Lucien Masmejan, lead counsel for the SNG. “As we told the Court, our goal is to have an exciting race on the water and we are willing to assist the Challenger with any queries it has with regards the measurement procedures so that we and GGYC can be sure USA matches the dimensions in the Certificate of Challenge. We want to get the America's Cup back to the water and out of the court,” he added.

Note to editors: the Custom's House Registry is more commonly known today as the Certificate of Documentation.