The Italian America's Cup team Luna Rossa Challenge is threatening to withdraw from the Cup. The racing team of Prada patriarch Patrizio Bertelli has reacted sharply to the proposal of the American Cup defenders to switch from the planned large AC62 catamarans to significantly smaller twin-hulls. In a statement issued by the team late on Thursday evening, it said: "Team Luna Rossa Challenge strongly rejects the proposal published today on the America's Cup website to change the class rule for the 35th America's Cup and therefore the boat previously accepted by all challengers on 5 June 2014."
The team's announcement continues: "Luna Rossa does not believe that a sporting event should be held in a courtroom and has no intention of initiating a protracted legal battle that would only damage the event. If the principle of unanimity and the consent of all challengers required to change the class rule is not respected, then Luna Rossa will be forced to withdraw from the 35th America's Cup. Team Luna Rossa trusts that the defenders will quickly make a public statement, also so as not to jeopardise the organisation of the America's Cup World Series in Cagliari, Sardinia, scheduled from 4 to 7 June."
YACHT online already reported yesterday on the reasons behind the Italians' clear refusal to switch to smaller Cup catamarans. Like other challenger teams, the Italians are already well advanced in their preparations and do not see the point in giving up these advantages as a concession to less well-funded teams in the current competition.
Dalton declares his team's solidarity with Bertelli
According to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, journalists had previously been told by the America's Cup organisers that there would be no regatta in Auckland because Emirates Team New Zealand had also spoken out against the class change. In response, New Zealand's Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said that there could be no money for Team New Zealand without a Cup presence in Auckland. "We are again interested in being a sponsor of the team," Joyce told the New Zealand Herald, "but at a much lower level than last time and on the basis that there is qualification in Auckland." Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said in a video statement: "We support Luna Rossa's position. Simply because it's too late to fundamentally change the rules."
Grant Dalton sides with the Italian team Luna Rossa Challenge and attacks the Cup defenders
Dalton went on to say that his team is absolutely open to cutting costs. He reported that the Cup Defenders had made two offers to his team last Saturday. One was to switch to AC45 catamarans in conjunction with the loss of Auckland as a qualifying regatta in order to attract other teams for whom the trip to New Zealand is an expensive pleasure. Alternatively, the Cup organisers wanted to stick with the larger AC62 catamarans and sail off Auckland as planned. For Dalton, this is a clear-cut matter: "We are on Luna Rossa's side. And we need Auckland as a qualifying event." Following the recent manoeuvres of the Cup defenders, the world's most famous regatta is in danger of losing two of its most prestigious teams.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
