Timeline
July 3, 2007
Alinghi defends the America’s Cup for its yacht club, the Society Nautique de Geneva (SNG). The Swiss Team beat Team Emirates New Zealand by one second in a thrilling Race 7.
July 5,
SNG accepts an “in house” challenge from Nautico Club Espanol de Vela’s (CNEV) for the 33rd America’s Cup. A controversial new protocol is written.
July 11,
The Golden Gate Yacht Club files a formal challenge for the America’s Cup under the strict terms of the Deed of Gift. The GGYC contend that the challenge from CNEV does not meet the defining criteria in its acceptance as the challenger of record.
July 13,
Longtime sponsor Louis Vuitton withdraws from the event as a corporate partner.
July 20,
The GGYC files legal papers in the New York Supreme Court.
July 23,
SNG rejects the challenge from GGYC.
September 10,
The NYSC grants a court date of October 22nd, for the two sides to present their case.
October 22,
The case is presented before the honorable Judge Herman Cahn.
October 31,
The America’s Cup Management (ACM) release the new design rule for the America’s Cup Class. The AC 90 is greeted with mixed reviews, but there is widespread general acceptance, In part due to the integrity of yacht designer Tom Schnackenberg as the arbitrator of the new rule.
November 22,
ACM announce the postponement of the 33rd America’s Cup. It was scheduled for Valencia in 2009.
November 27,
Judge Cahn releases his decision. The court concluded that the CNEV challenge is invalid and that the GGYC is the Challenger of Record.
December 4, 2007
The GGYC thru its racing team BMW Oracle release a 9 point amendment to the protocol.
As it stands:
If the SNG does not accept the amended protocol from the GGYC for mutually accepted terms for the next America’s Cup the two yachts clubs will race in 10 months time under the strict terms issued by the deed of gift. This could include racing in a best of three series in an almost anything goes match between 90 ft. trimarans.
