Alinghi take new step to unfreeze America's Cup

Alinghi took another step to try and persuade BMW Oracle to drop a law suit that could delay the next America's Cup and pitch their billionaire owners against each other in court rather than on the water.

BMW Oracle, bankrolled by software mogul Larry Ellison, is suing Alinghi for rules they say would give the Swiss team an unfair advantage in the 33rd America's Cup, due to be sailed in Valencia in 2009.

Alinghi, owned by biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, accused Ellison of holding the Cup hostage but last week tweaked the protocol to try and persuade BMW Oracle to drop the case.

However, the US team argued that the rules Alinghi have set give them a head start on designing the new boat for the America's Cup.

On Wednesday, Alinghi offered the challengers the right to pick a key parameter of the design rule that could effectively set back anybody who had already started drawing up plans.

"Is there a deal? No," said Michel Hodara, chief officer of ACM, the group organising the event.

"But there's been an offer and that offer is addressing what we gather is the last remaining hurdle for BMW Oracle to drop their case and enter," he told Reuters.