Yachting: Alinghi looks at its options

A majority of Alinghi's challengers in the 33rd America's Cup want the event to take place in 2009 as scheduled after the Swiss defender lost a court case over the rules of the event, an Oracle spokesman said yesterday.

Alinghi's billionaire owner, Ernesto Bertarelli, met yesterday with the mayor of Valencia, Rita Barbera.

After the meeting Barbera said Alinghi was mulling three options: appealing the decision; accepting a duel with Oracle next July; or accepting a traditional regatta on Oracle's terms in 2009 or later.