VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Negotiations between America’s Cup challenger BMW Oracle and Alinghi have broken down again.
The Golden Gate Yacht Club where BMW Oracle team is based says Alinghi turned down another offer Sunday to settle a dispute over the Swiss team’s sails. The dispute threatens to delay the Feb. 8 start date.
Alinghi already refused to sign an agreement following talks in Singapore witnessed by the International Sailing Federation.
Golden Gate Yacht Club spokesman Tom Ehman said Tuesday that Alinghi “again turned their backs on the agreement and the cup’s pre-eminent principle — mutual consent.”
The American team has asked the New York Supreme Court to rule on Alinghi’s sails, which it says break match rules by being constructed outside the Swiss team’s home country.