Related PDF files

Russell Coutts’ Reply Letter to AYRE Challenge

Less than 24 hours after receiving Pedro Perelló’s, AYRE Challenge CEO, open letter, Russell Coutts, BMW Oracle CEO, replies with another open letter that provides a number of important points.

According to Coutts, his team is “eager” to join the rest of Challengers and has made “genuinely constructive suggestions and concessions” towards that goal. Nothing new there and this wording, or similar, has been part of various releases or statements form the American team.

What is different this time though, is Coutts’ statement they are “willing to consider entering the competition by December 15″, the deadline set by Alinghi, even if they consider it “totaly arbitrary”.

Not being an official challenger, BMW Oracle has never been present in the meetings between Alinghi and the rest of challengers, has no access to any of the documents that are being drafted there and as a result lacks the ability to judge up to what point the recent modifications meet their concerns.

That’s exactly the point where the team from San Francisco makes its explicit demand. Coutts asks AYRE to arrange to have the Defender send BMW Oracle the “current drafts of the protocol, event regulations and competition regulations” by next Monday, 8 December. That will give BMW Oracle one week to study and review the documents, comparing them to their 10-point Plan, in order to determine their “course of action”.

If these documents are not provided or if BMW Oracle judges the modifications made insufficient, they will any effort to resolve the dispute and wait for the NY State Court of Appeals to decide. Coutts expects they will prevail in their lawsuit, with the final decision made public “early next year”.

Aware of the “stakes involved in preserving the integrity” of the America’s Cup, BMW Oracle will not seek a one-on-one race against Alinghi but will work towards a conventional multi-challenger event with “fair rules” in 2010.

The ball is now on AYRE’s, and most importantly, Alinghi’s camp.

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

Related PDF files

Russell Coutts’ Reply Letter to AYRE Challenge

Less than 24 hours after receiving Pedro Perelló’s, AYRE Challenge CEO, open letter, Russell Coutts, BMW Oracle CEO, replies with another open letter that provides a number of important points.

According to Coutts, his team is “eager” to join the rest of Challengers and has made “genuinely constructive suggestions and concessions” towards that goal. Nothing new there and this wording, or similar, has been part of various releases or statements form the American team.

What is different this time though, is Coutts’ statement they are “willing to consider entering the competition by December 15″, the deadline set by Alinghi, even if they consider it “totaly arbitrary”.

Not being an official challenger, BMW Oracle has never been present in the meetings between Alinghi and the rest of challengers, has no access to any of the documents that are being drafted there and as a result lacks the ability to judge up to what point the recent modifications meet their concerns.

That’s exactly the point where the team from San Francisco makes its explicit demand. Coutts asks AYRE to arrange to have the Defender send BMW Oracle the “current drafts of the protocol, event regulations and competition regulations” by next Monday, 8 December. That will give BMW Oracle one week to study and review the documents, comparing them to their 10-point Plan, in order to determine their “course of action”.

If these documents are not provided or if BMW Oracle judges the modifications made insufficient, they will any effort to resolve the dispute and wait for the NY State Court of Appeals to decide. Coutts expects they will prevail in their lawsuit, with the final decision made public “early next year”.

Aware of the “stakes involved in preserving the integrity” of the America’s Cup, BMW Oracle will not seek a one-on-one race against Alinghi but will work towards a conventional multi-challenger event with “fair rules” in 2010.

The ball is now on AYRE’s, and most importantly, Alinghi’s court.

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

Open letter to BMW Oracle Racing

Dear Russell,

The reasons that induced me to write this open letter stem from the respect I have towards you and your team.

AYRE challenged for the America’s Cup more than a year ago, hoping to take part in a competition that thanks to the excellent organization set up by ACM and the Valencian and Spanish public institutions became a world reference and example of what a global sports competition should aspire to.

The success of the 32nd edition in the summer of 2007 in Valencia surpassed all expectations and was also due to the active participation of all Teams, with BMW Oracle Racing undoubtedly being a clear example. AYRE was born because of the 32nd edition being so successful.

Unfortunately, any judicial procedure in any field causes serious setbacks to the proper development of any activity and in this particular case all teams are suffering from this eternal lawsuit that, without pointing any fingers, looking for reasons or blaming anyone, has paralyzed the 33rd edition of the Cup.

Alinghi has recently decided to get sailing back on track and reactivate the organization. They have gathered all teams that have legally entered and started a process of rebuilding the competition. I truly believe this was the correct procedure because the current situation is greatly detrimental to all involved but also to the image of the America’s Cup.

After three meetings in Geneva, all participating teams have been able to confirm Alinghi’s predisposition to carry out the necessary modifications to the Protocol, the Event and Competition Regulations, as well as the design of the new box-rule, in a completely democratic way. As a result, great advances have been achieved in a short time.

AYRE considers that at this moment we objectively have the evidence that demonstrates the change in situation. Race Officials will be selected from ISAF officials. The Protocol and the Event and Competition Regulations are being modified in a democratic way, open to all registered Challengers. We believe that going back to an exhaustive 10-point list, most of which have already been addressed, is not the most cordial way to reach an agreement. Nor is it a considerate gesture towards the teams present in the meetings.

We want to believe BMW Oracle Racing wish, as they have repeatedly stated, the return to an open competition, open to all Challengers, as soon as possible.

AYRE thinks that at this moment the only important issue is to break the current deadlock, without any accusations or analysis, without declaring winners or losers in a dispute that has hurt all parts equally. The only important issue is to remedy the reasons that caused BOR’s action, within the democratic framework Alinghi has put in place with all the teams participating in the 33rd America’s Cup. A DoG Match will irreversibly damage the possibility of having a multi-challenger edition in the near future.

As a challenger that represents the prestigious Yacht Club of Denia, one of Valencia’s and Spain’s most important yacht clubs, we think that the effort and patience shown by the Valencian and Spanish public institutions should not be wasted.

The deadline for inscription in the 33rd America’s Cup is on December the 15th. After that date, no team will be able to join. AYRE thinks that BMW Oracle Racing’s presence is essential and its absence will strongly weaken the competition. We also think that BOR has the right to participate, as long as it’s done before the deadline and within the formal framework.

Let this friendly letter be a demonstration of our admiration towards a team that through its perseverance and capacity has demonstrated that, despite suffering sports setbacks, because of its spirit of fair competition it has been able to come back and compete.

Dear Russell, the America´s Cup needs the three-time winner of the world’s oldest and most prestigious sports event, and probably the world’s best sailor, to be part of it, adding to its prestige.

Sincerely,

Pedro Perelló
CEO, AYRE CHALLENGE

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

Open letter to BMW Oracle Racing

Dear Russell,

The reasons that induced me to write this open letter stem from the respect I have towards you and your team.

AYRE challenged for the America’s Cup more than a year ago, hoping to take part in a competition that thanks to the excellent organization set up by ACM and the Valencian and Spanish public institutions became a world reference and example of what a global sports competition should aspire to.

The success of the 32nd edition in the summer of 2007 in Valencia surpassed all expectations and was also due to the active participation of all Teams, with BMW Oracle Racing undoubtedly being a clear example. AYRE was born because of the 32nd edition being so successful.

Unfortunately, any judicial procedure in any field causes serious setbacks to the proper development of any activity and in this particular case all teams are suffering from this eternal lawsuit that, without pointing any fingers, looking for reasons or blaming anyone, has paralyzed the 33rd edition of the Cup.

Alinghi has recently decided to get sailing back on track and reactivate the organization. They have gathered all teams that have legally entered and started a process of rebuilding the competition. I truly believe this was the correct procedure because the current situation is greatly detrimental to all involved but also to the image of the America’s Cup.

After three meetings in Geneva, all participating teams have been able to confirm Alinghi’s predisposition to carry out the necessary modifications to the Protocol, the Event and Competition Regulations, as well as the design of the new box-rule, in a completely democratic way. As a result, great advances have been achieved in a short time.

AYRE considers that at this moment we objectively have the evidence that demonstrates the change in situation. Race Officials will be selected from ISAF officials. The Protocol and the Event and Competition Regulations are being modified in a democratic way, open to all registered Challengers. We believe that going back to an exhaustive 10-point list, most of which have already been addressed, is not the most cordial way to reach an agreement. Nor is it a considerate gesture towards the teams present in the meetings.

We want to believe BMW Oracle Racing wish, as they have repeatedly stated, the return to an open competition, open to all Challengers, as soon as possible.

AYRE thinks that at this moment the only important issue is to break the current deadlock, without any accusations or analysis, without declaring winners or losers in a dispute that has hurt all parts equally. The only important issue is to remedy the reasons that caused BOR’s action, within the democratic framework Alinghi has put in place with all the teams participating in the 33rd America’s Cup. A DoG Match will irreversibly damage the possibility of having a multi-challenger edition in the near future.

As a challenger that represents the prestigious Yacht Club of Denia, one of Valencia’s and Spain’s most important yacht clubs, we think that the effort and patience shown by the Valencian and Spanish public institutions should not be wasted.

The deadline for inscription in the 33rd America’s Cup is on December the 15th. After that date, no team will be able to join. AYRE thinks that BMW Oracle Racing’s presence is essential and its absence will strongly weaken the competition. We also think that BOR has the right to participate, as long as it’s done before the deadline and within the formal framework.

Let this friendly letter be a demonstration of our admiration towards a team that through its perseverance and capacity has demonstrated that, despite suffering sports setbacks, because of its spirit of fair competition it has been able to come back and compete.

Dear Russell, the America´s Cup needs the three-time winner of the world’s oldest and most prestigious sports event, and probably the world’s best sailor, to be part of it, adding to its prestige.

Sincerely,

Pedro Perelló
CEO, AYRE CHALLENGE

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: America's Cup Management] Two additional yacht clubs have presented the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) with their challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup, bringing the current number of Challengers eager to face the Swiss Defender Alinghi, in Valencia, to seven.

One of the new Challengers accepted by AC Management is the newly created Spanish team Ayre, representing Real Club Náutico de Denia. Syndicate head Pedro Perelló expressed his pleasure and commitment: “Following on from the successes of the 32nd America’s Cup we decided that we want to be part of this event. We believe that the 33rd edition is going to provide yet more fantastic moments and now just hope that we can get on with the competition.”

In addition to Ayre’s entry, there is one other new team whose challenge has already been confirmed, but who has requested confidentiality pending its own announcement. In fact, the number of entered Challengers for the 33rd America’s Cup could increase over the coming days, as there are two more teams who have started filing the necessary registering documents with the event organiser.

Other positive news for the organisation and the teams of the 33rd America’s Cup came from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, confirming that the Spanish Senate has approved a number of financial measures that were committed in the Host City Venue Agreement, such as tax benefits and social security exemptions.

Original post by Valencia Sailing and software by Elliott Back

The new Spanish syndicate Ayre Challenge was officially declared today Tuesday as challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup.

Ayre represents the Real Club Náutico de Dénia (Royal Yacht Club of Denia) and thus becomes the seventh official challenger for the next edition of the world’s oldest sports competition.

Present during the official entry signature were the General Manager of Ayre, Pedro Perelló, and the President of the Real Club Náutico de Dénia, Manuel González Devesa.

Pedro Perelló stated that “Ayre was already a reality, but with the official entry we have now become a fully-fledged challenger”. The team finally chose to represent the Real Club Náutico de Dénia, mainly because “the 33rd America’s Cup will take place in Valencia and Dénia is one of the most important yacht clubs of the Valencian Region”.

AYRE officially becomes the 7th challenger of the 33rd America’s Cup. From left to right, Manuel Gonzalez Devesa (president of the Real Club Náutico de Denia), Michel Hodara (CEO of America’s Cup Management) and Pedro Perelló (General Manager of AYRE). Valencia, 20 November 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / AYRE

Ayre’s head commented that “an association of reputed yacht clubs will be formed, linked to the syndicate and headed by the Club de Mar of Mallorca. They will be represented by Ayre and will spread this important project throughout Spain. There is an ambitious sports, social and cultural program that we will develop and we count on the most competent and enterprising yacht clubs in order to carry it out”.

The Real Club Náutico de Dénia is the biggest yacht club in the province of Alicante and one of the most active throughout Spain. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the club’s foundation. It organizes annual regattas such as the Diana de Oro (36 editions), Ruta de la Sal, la Copa del Canal, Dénia Vela a 2 y solitarios as well as a number of important regattas both on a national and international level. In 2007 it organized, amongst others, the 29er EuroCup, the Spanish Championships of the Platú 25 and Europe classes, the Dénia Vela Ligera-Campeonato Autonómico de Vela Ligera as well as the Regional Optimist Team Championships. Other important events it organized during its 40 years of existence are the World Musto Skiff Championships (2004), the World Team Racing Championships (2002), the ¾ Ton World Championships (1982) or the 470 European Championships (1979).

In addition to Sailing, the club comprises sections of Rowing, Fishing, Canoe, Diving and Swimming.

Original post by Valencia Sailing and software by Elliott Back