Cup compromise rejected by Alinghi

MADRID, Spain -- Champions Alinghi have rejected a compromise aimed at ending a legal dispute over the rules for the next America's Cup that threatens to delay the event -- US syndicate Oracle has confirmed.

The proposal was prepared by Oracle and three of the five challengers of the 33rd America's Cup which is set to take place in 2009 in Spain.

It was presented on Thursday night to Alinghi who rejected it by letter "within a short time", Oracle said in a statement.

Russell Coutts, the chief executive of Oracle, said there had been indications that Alinghi was planning to postpone the event for commercial reasons. "There is no reason for the event to be delayed. Together with a majority of the challengers we have delivered a fair, genuine and honorable best last shot," he said in a statement.

"Alinghi's rejection of this is a disgrace and can only be taken to indicate that they reached a point probably long ago where they do not in fact want the event to go ahead as planned," he added.

Oracle accuses Alinghi of making changes to the rules of the prestigious sailing event which favour the Swiss team.

A New York court is to deliver a ruling on Oracle's legal challenge this month and a decision in favor of the Americans could lead to a postponement of the event, scheduled to be held in Valencia in 2009.

Oracle has said it would only drop its legal case if Alinghi accepts the compromise which was endorsed by Emirates Team New Zealand, Team Origin and Team Shosholoza.

"What should have been a great chapter in America's Cup history has instead degenerated into a shambles. The protocol Alinghi introduced is the most one-sided in the history of the Cup," said Coutts.

Alinghi won the America's Cup in July in Valencia, defeating Emirates Team New Zealand 5-2 in a best-of-nine series.

According to the "deed of gift" rules which govern the race, the winner gets to pick the next challenger of record, and the two groups establish the rules for the next race. E-mail to a friend