The path to the 33rd AC

12.05.2009 (11:39 CET) - Geneva, Switzerland - Société Nautique de Genève

Société Nautique de Genève files opposition papers to GGYC’s motion for contempt

The 33rd America’s Cup defending yacht club yesterday submitted opposition papers to the latest legal strategy from the Challenger of Record, the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The Société Nautique de Genève declares the GGYC’s motion for contempt to be ‘at best premature and appears, on the face of it, to be a cheap publicity stunt. In bringing this motion, GGYC rebuffed SNG’s efforts to engage in discussions about the proper race date, and violated the desire of the Court of Appeals that “the right to act as trustee of the America’s Cup should be decided on the water and not in a courtroom”.’

At a 23 April meeting in Geneva, SNG representatives stated their understanding that under the 7 April court order and the Deed of Gift, the 33rd America’s Cup race needed to be held beginning 3 May 2010. Not one of the multiple GGYC representatives uttered a word in protest. Nor did GGYC suggest in any way that the race should be held in February, In fact, GGYC reps. refused to discuss the topic at all. Instead they made it clear that they preferred to discuss the issue at a later meeting. SNG took this offer to continue discussions as an honest one. On 27 April, rather than continuing the dialogue the GGYC filed this application to the New York Supreme Court.

Both parties are expected in court on Thursday 14 May. The Judge will hear the issue of contempt regarding the date of the next Match and the issue of the ‘pending’ GGYC Custom-House Registry.