BMW Oracle refuse to sign plans

BMW Oracle will not sign proposals for the next America's Cup and will rely on a legal appeal against defending champions Alinghi's plans, the team said this week.

The decision means the bitter dispute surrounding sailing's most high-profile event, held since 1851, will continue in court.

Alinghi, along with 11 other teams, have agreed to work on organising the 33rd American Cup and had set a deadline of Dec. 15 for BMW Oracle to sign.

But the BMW Oracle's Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) said in a letter they had no intention of doing so as they did not consider the event to be "a legitimate America's Cup".

"Rather, we will now focus our efforts and attention on winning our appeal before the New York State Court of Appeals, clearly the only avenue left open to create a fair and competitive challenge," read the letter from GGYC Commodore Marcus Young.

Alinghi said in a statement that BMW Oracle were pursuing a "selfish legal strategy".

The 33rd running of the race was originally scheduled for 2009 but was put on hold after BMW Oracle challenged the legality of the Spanish team recognised by Alinghi as the official challenger of record.

The challenger of record is traditionally involved along with the holders in setting up the rules for the next edition of the race.

A New York judge ruled in November 2007 in BWM Oracle's favour, and a subsequent ruling set up a best-of-three, head-to-head series between the two rivals rather than the traditional multi-boat competition.

Alinghi successfully appealed, saying they preferred a later race date, a separate challenger of record and a larger field of challengers.

BMW Oracle, who object to a number of elements of the rules and structure of the planned event, filed their own appeal and the case is set to be heard on Feb. 10 with a ruling due by the end of March.