Do a good job, Bertarelli tells Ellison

Beaten Swiss team leader Ernesto Bertarelli had a parting shot for America's Cup victor Larry Ellison, urging him to keep the event's best interests at heart after two years of bitter legal battles.

Bertarelli's Alinghi were soundly beaten by Ellison's BMW Oracle in the second race of the best-of-three duel between the giant, hi-tech multi-hulls in Spain, surrendering their seven-year hold on sailing's oldest trophy 2-0.

The two races were the culmination of acrimonious legal wrangling as Bertarelli and Ellison, two of the world's richest men, argued over who could contest the regatta, where it could be sailed and what kind of boats and technology could be used.

The arguments over the rules - governed by a 19th century "Deed of Gift" - resulted in a two-boat series without a challengers series, an outcome even Ellison's co-sponsor BMW described as a disaster.

The arguments marked the event's lowest point since similar squabbling in the late 1980s.

"Now it's for them to rebuild that and I hope they do a good job. I wish them to do as well as we did," a disappointed Bertarelli told reporters after congratulating Ellison.

The legal battles are still going on, with a New York court to rule on Feb. 25 on a complaint by Ellison over the origins of Alinghi's sails. Bertarelli urged Ellison to drop the case now the issue had been settled.

"We did everything we could but we never went to the courts unless we were forced to," Bertarelli said.

"I just hope he's going to drop his legal cases. If he does so, we will do the same," he said.

Ellison did not respond directly to Bertarelli's suggestion, saying instead the next America's Cup would be a multi-challenge event offering "a level playing field" for all competitors.