Alinghi appeal ruling on challenger

Holders Alinghi said the America's Cup was in danger of being "kidnapped" and appealed against a New York judge's ruling that BMW Oracle should be their next challenger.

The Swiss syndicate said in a lawsuit that BMW Oracle had "kidnapped the 33rd America's Cup from the numerous yacht clubs that committed to sail in the next race and forced a one-on-one race with SNG (Alinghi's Geneva nautical society)."

Without a reversal of the court's order "the America's Cup will be decided by judicial fiat (arbitrary order) rather than by sailors on the water," the lawsuit added.

A court is expected to rule on Alinghi's appeal in June.

A New York judge ruled in November that BMW Oracle should be the challengers for the next edition of yachting's biggest prize rather than the Spanish yacht club CNEV favoured by Alinghi.