All quiet on the America's Cup front

3:21 AM Sat 4 Apr 2009 GMT

'Competitor Meeting. Alinghi Base, Valencia, 2 March 2009 - the fifth such meeting in six months. A sixth was held on 31 March. BMW Oracle Racing the new Challenger of Record has been excluded from all six.' www.alinghi.com &copy Click Here to view large photo

There were no public moves on the America's Cup front overnight (NZT).

Sources close to the two principal parties confirmed they had adopted a low key strategy, in an attempt to get a positive basis for the negotiations which were expected to start next week.

This approach is in marked contrast to earlier post-decision days when a PR barrage was launched between the parties provoking some bitter comments and entrenched attitudes.

It seems that the multi challenger, mutual consent (MCMC) option will be the first tested around the table.

If accepted this would involve the negotiation of a new Protocol, signed off by the Defender, Societe Nautique de Geneve, and the new Challenger of Record, Golden Gate Yacht Club. That in turn would need to go back to a Competitors Meeting for signature and possible modification.

Quite what changes would be required are not certain. And, as reported in Sail-World yesterday the Ten Point Plan previously submitted by Golden Gate YC would seem to be a likely checklist for changes.

However several of those changes have already been adopted as a result of Competitor Meetings in Valencia.

Golden Gate YC will also need to be formally briefed on all aspects of the discussions to date - both in their role as Challenger of Record, and as the newest entry accepted by SNG.

To date GGYC have been excluded from the Competitor Meetings, in contrast to the practice adopted for previous America's Cups.

That exclusion will present some issues in that duirng the past 18 months no less than three class rules have been published, and BMW Oracle Racing will be looking to ensure that no advantage has been gained, and that they are at no disadvantage because of the process that has been adopted.

There is no talk, as yet, of a Deed of Gift Match in 90ft multihulls.

by Richard Gladwell

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All quiet on the America's Cup front

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