Statement from Brad Butterworth
[Source: Alinghi] Statement from Société Nautique de Genève's Brad Butterworth, four-time America's Cup winner and skipper of the America's Cup defending team Alinghi, following yet another lawsuit from the American challenger BMW Oracle:
"Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and their yacht club, the Golden Gate, seem to believe that the 33rd America's Cup can be won in court as their 7th legal challenge demonstrates. Our team is ready to compete in Ras al Khaimah, UAE, the official venue for the 33rd America's Cup and will begin four months of intensive training before the start of the America's Cup Match on 8 February 2010.
BMW Oracle's latest lawsuit is further proof of their unsportsmanlike behaviour. We will only return to the legal process to show that it is sporting character and sailing strategy that wins races, not litigation. Meanwhile our Cup preparations and training will continue in Ras al Khaimah where we hope they will deign to join us for the America's Cup Match.
As Trustee of the America's Cup, we are convinced that Ras al Khaimah is the perfect and legitimate venue for the 33rd edition of sport's oldest trophy. New York Supreme Court Justice Cahn's order of 2008 stated that ‘the location of the match shall be in Valencia or any other location selected by SNG'. As far as BMW Oracle's security concerns: Tiger Woods plays in the UAE every year, Roger Federer plays here every year, and even Russell Coutts sails here every year.
Their claims regarding the Deed of Gift prevailing over the order of the Court are in conflict with previous submissions on the date of the match. Their complaints as to safety are not truly held by them, demonstrated by the fact that they have relocated personnel to Ras Al Khaimah, and have equipment at the venue in preparation for the Match.
We believe this lawsuit is yet another tactic employed by Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle to avoid racing us for the Cup on the water.”
Labels: Alinghi, BMW Oracle, Brad Butterworth, Ras al-Khaimah
10 Comments:
BMWO has lost all credibility now, Alinghi 5 has just touched down in RAK and a couple of hours later the powers that be in BMWO say the venue is not for us.
The Rules are a different matter but there is nothing wrong with UAE for 33rd AC Cup.
well said. It's all over for them. Coutts got lucky by hanging onto Blakes shirt tail. Got carried along by Brad and the boys and now has finally discovered he is not as smart as he'd like to think he is. Its a traversty for coutts, not the americas cup.
Another spanner in the works and another attempt to delay the match.
The problem for SNG is that GGYC wins in court so SNG is doing something it shouldn't. Besides how many times has SNG tried to DSQ GGYC in court.
Being in court is all about getting a fair race with respect to the Deed. Being fair is something that the court has shown that SNG knows very little about.
For SNG to continue to whine about "winning it in court" only ruins their public crediblity as they loose in court. After all we are in court because & continue to be due to SNG's twisted desire like the ACP 33 to win at all costs off the water.
Having The Cup pulled from SNG by the NYSC might just be the fastest way for the AC to move forward.
This is THE BIGGEST JOKE I've ever seen from BMW Oracle.
If they wanted a different Venue then they should have made their Decision earlier.
They let AL pack their Stuff and let them move to RAK and then barely 24 Hours after "Alinghi 5" touched down in RAK they saying: "We don't like the Venue".
Alinghi should fight for this and they will.
The Court will validate Ras Al-Kaimah as 33rd AC Venue.
dream on.
better not unpacking and prepare to re-ship tp vlc.
One thing with Brad, his statements are to the point. The BMW ones are rubbish press release politically correct stuff ups.
They waited specifically to the moment Alinghi arrived to say they didn't like it, its tragic and pathetic. Its like kids throwing tantrums.
Oracle are laying off staff because they don't need them, they have no intention of sailing that boat anywhere, they can't anyway, they can't master it, they couldn't even develop a boat to measure when its them who decide the boat and dimensions.
5:45 AM - whatever you are smoking I don't want as you are od'ing!!!
Alinghi keeps loosing in court - I guess they are doing something wrong...
If you want to meet BMW Oracle on the water why do you try to disqualify them with fishy measurement rules (although your lawyers in court promised that this would not happen)?
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