Cup must be decided on water - Alinghi

The America's Cup should be decided on the water and not in a courtroom, holders Alinghi's president has said.

Challengers BMW Oracle of the US are disputing the validity of the sails of Swiss team Alinghi in a New York court, threatening the 33rd edition of the event scheduled for Valencia on February 8.

"I hope we will find a solution because the sport should be decided on the water," Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli said in an interview with Reuters Television in Valencia.

"I hope we are going to leave the court case behind and everybody is going to be looking at the sailing rather than the court papers."

BMW argue the sails on Alinghi's giant catamaran contravene nationality rules under the Deed of Gift document which governs the event while Alinghi say they are Swiss made.

The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), under whose colours BMW sail, expect the New York Supreme Court to hear their case next week or the week after but it is unclear when a ruling will be made.

"The America's Cup is going to be fine, it's always fine," said Bertarelli. "It is going to happen on the eighth of February and that's when we are ready to race.

"I'm going to be there ready to race," added the Swiss entrepreneur, like BMW Oracle owner Larry Ellison one of the world's richest men.

The GGYC offered to rescind their legal challenge over the sails if Alinghi signed an agreement negotiated in Singapore last week by 1800 GMT on Monday.

The Swiss, represented by their club, the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), refused to back down and said they were not prepared to negotiate under the threat of a lawsuit.

"If Larry is going to win the America's Cup in court then I will be the first one to congratulate him," Bertarelli said.

"That would be very funny. But I've got a message for them: see you on the eighth of February."