what about the African team which claimed they were shut out?

The AC event authority also pulled the plug on the Auckland qualifier event, which makes the ETNZ entry far from certain.
So much for getting more teams involved.

Which is precisely why I'm doubting this decision. Seems like it was made from a pretty self-serving position.

Richard Gladwell on Luna Rossa and the AC debacle

"Luna Rossa as the next Challenger to have lodged their notice of Challenge, and endorsed the Australia's protocol with a few changes - one of which, in the interest of Cup harmony was to accede the effective Right of Veto that a Challenger if Record has over changes to the Protocol.

Instead Luna Rossa agreed to the will of the majority of the Challenges prevailing.

However they did not expect this to be used against them in the way that it was this week..."
.
.
.
"Initial indications were that Emirates Team New Zealand/Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were the next in line, who would be an interesting option from Coutts' perspective - but may in the end be the only way of resolving the current impasse.

It is uncertain whether the America's Cup World series event scheduled for Cagliari in early June will continue. Luna Rossa have said they will honour all contractual obligations, however they are not the organizers. "

Emirates Team New Zealand's statement

Statement from Artemis Racing, BAR, ORACLE TEAM USA, Team France

Commercial Commissioner comments on Luna Rossa

Gladwell - Skippers call Team New Zealand out over Class Change

I think they should just do Rock, Paper, Scissors. We could get Ken Read and the other idiot to talk about what might happen for 50 minutes then get it over with.

I still don't get why France even has a vote. What have they ever done in the AC.

Foiling has ruined the whole thing. Eliminate it and the wings and the cost will come down.

The one guy that loves this whole thing is Pete Melvin.

Two America's Cup winning teams, Emirates Team NZ and Alinghi responded to the Luna Rossa withdrawal.

I read this on the link from the Richard Gladwell article. Is Ernesto going to get back in the picture?

Funny. Ernesto is just piling on with Bertelli. He's still bitter from the AC33 butt whoppin' in 2010.

Bertelli has lingual diarrhea, calling Oracle Team USA imperialists

''As far as I'm concerned, the America's Cup ends here. Forever. Irrevocably.''

"You want to know what the crazy thing is? That when they showed us the first protocol - the one we all conformed to and invested in - we screamed to the entire world that it was wrong and cost too much, and we proposed 55-foot boats. But they kept going straight ahead, forcing us to invest in these projects that they want to throw away now. They're not serious people and I don't want to have anything to do with them."

This point is hard to argue with. I'd be pissed.

You were just being funny , when Ya said that ?

Bille

Actually I'm wrong. Making it "Commercially Viable" has ruined it. Can't fault RC, his boss gave him a directive and he's trying to make it happen just as anyone of us would be.

While it irks me I'm rooting for anyone but LE at this point. This race is supposed to be a design competition and if LE is tired of spending his money chasing it then get the hell out of the way and let what ever happens happen.

If you don't have the money to play then shut up and watch. I refer to BAR, TF and the rest of the want to be's.

I just want to see Ainsley jump off his foiler, swim over and kick the the judge's butt if he gets a penalty.

Like ACWS meets WWE...

"Commercially viable"? They may say things like that but to be commercially viable requires a lot of entries. To get a lot of entries, the boat needs to be low cost and closer to OD. A lot of entries means lots of competitors. A lot of competitors and a stricter OD means a greater chance that anyone could win it and the cup could change hands. The only reason someone that holds the cup might ACTUALLY want it to be more commercially viable is when they don't care whether or not they keep it. Part of me wonders if Ellison is tired of the rigors (and cost) of organization with this latest decision to downsize and make the event more affordable.

They should hit up that Brazilian ga-zillionaire who just bought Kraft/Heinz and get him to enter..



Welcome to the mall family....

He could probably catch up.

OR
Ellison is a highly competitive person ; that Likes
to win , (win against All who Dare Try).

I was the best ACRO pilot at my local hang gliding club ;
didn't know i sucked till i went to a world comp.
I got #4 at the worlds ; and That :
"didn't quite make the podium" . -------(sigh)

Ye get, what i'm saying ?

Bille

Bye Bye Cagliari

Portsmouth will now be the first America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) event

I hope it blows like that last AC-45 stop they had. That was awesome, although I doubt the teams today would look as amateur as they did then...