KEY POINTS:
Oracle Racing's new skipper, New Zealander Russell Coutts, has continued the American syndicate's attack on the conditions for the 2009 event, saying defenders Alinghi should scrap rule changes.
Oracle have taken court action over the set of rules governing the Cup event, known as the "protocol", and Coutts
today argued for a return to the previous document.
"The solution is very simple: go back to a protocol that made the last edition so successful," he told news agency AFP after competing in the King's Cup off the Spanish island of Mallorca.
"Nobody really gave a justification for this new unacceptable protocol."
Coutts cited one concern as being the disadvantage the challengers' were under in not knowing the class rule for the new yacht until October 31.
"It's very difficult," he said.
"We have no idea of the design of the new boat."
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In other Cup news, one newcomer has confirmed they'll be back in 2009, while a seasoned campaigner has pulled the plug.
Team Germany today confirmed they will launch another bid for the America's Cup, taking the number of challengers in the next regatta to five.
Team Germany's intention to return to Valencia means they will join a fleet that so far also includes Team New Zealand, Spain's Desafio Espanol, South Africans Shosholoza and Britain's new Team Origin.
The Germans, in their cup debut, came second-last among the 11 challengers in this year's regatta, and syndicate boss Michael Scheeren said it was important to build on the experience gained.
The announcement on their website comes after two significant developments involving Italian teams at the weekend.
Luna Rossa, one of the cup heavyweights, decided to call it quits after three campaigns, while Mascalzone Latino suggested amendments to the protocol, or conditions, that Alinghi unveiled for their next defence.
Mascalzone head Vincenzo Onorato urged Alinghi to consider retaining the existing class of boat, given the shorter than usual time frame of just two years.
He said Alinghi's proposed new, bigger 90-foot (27.5m) yacht could instead be introduced in the following America's Cup.
Onorato also called for the protocol to be substantially the same as for the just-completed regatta, with any changes to be negotiated between Alinghi and the commission representing the challengers.
He said this would solve many of the areas of concern over the amount of control the new protocol gave the Swiss defenders.
Alinghi retained the Auld Mug last month when they completed a 5-2 win over Team NZ in a match that featured some of the most dramatic racing in the trophy's 156-year history.
- NZPA