KEY POINTS:
MADRID - Alinghi changed some of the rules for the next America's Cup on Friday (NZ time) and urged BMW Oracle, who have contested the protocol in court, to drop the case and join the field for the 2009 event.
The winner of sailing's most coveted prize has
always set the rules for the next America's Cup but BMW Oracle argued Alinghi went too far to protect their title this time.
The US team, bankrolled by software billionaire Larry Ellison, particularly took umbrage at rules that allowed Alinghi's organising committee ACM to throw any challenger out of the event or refuse entry.
They also argued a new Spanish yacht club Alinghi chose as the main challenger was illegitimate.
Alinghi has now altered the rules about team entries and disqualification as well as the refereeing of the America's Cup, whose financial and sporting stakes have risen since the Swiss syndicate won in 2003 and brought the event to Europe for the first time since 1851.
"I'm pretty optimistic. I hope we'll be able to encourage BMW Oracle to drop the law suit and join the other challengers and get in on the game," Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth said.
Alinghi said they discussed the changes with five teams who have already challenged for the 33rd America's Cup.
Butterworth also talked them through with his great friend and erstwhile team mate Russell Coutts, a three-time Cup winner now skippering BMW Oracle.
"Russell is a competitor and he should be in this Cup," Butterworth said.
A spokeswoman for BMW Oracle said they would review the rule changes but it was too early to comment on whether they would drop their case. If not, it is due to be heard in New York on October 22.
Under the amended rules, teams can now only be thrown out of the Cup if they specifically fall foul of the protocol and will not be disqualified until their case is heard by the arbitration panel.
Alinghi also said ACM would only refuse a team entry if they did not comply with the Deed of Gift, the master rules of the America's Cup, if there are too many teams from one country or if there is no space in Valencia's purpose-built port.
Alinghi said if BMW Oracle challenged under the new protocol, they would be welcomed back as competitors.
BMW Oracle ran one of the most expensive campaigns in Valencia this year and was a favourite to take on Alinghi for the 32nd America's Cup until they were knocked out in the semi-finals of the challenger play-offs 5-0 by Italian team Luna Rossa.
Alinghi eventually beat Team New Zealand 5-2 to retain the America's Cup.
- REUTERS