Put Up or Shut Up!
by Jake on Mar.18, 2008, under America's Cup
Justice Herman Cahn finally rolled out from behind his desk today and reconfirmed the November 27 decision that GGYC (BMW/Oracle) is the valid challenger for the Cup. The claim by Alinghi that the challenge should be null and void because it included the phrase “keel yacht” is out the window. Alinghi has already made it clear that they did not wish to take up GGYC’s offers for a conventional regatta so we’re going racing on 90 foot multihull monsters! I think I predicted this pretty early! 
The date is a bit up for grabs now – GGYC is pushing for October because it doesn’t feel like the legal wrangling on behalf of SNG should be cause to delay the timing of the match from the submission of the original challenge. SNG is pushing for July 2009.
Right, wrong, or indifferent, one thing is for sure. This is going to be one of the most exciting (and potentially short) America’s Cup matches in all of the history of the world’s longest cup challenge.
Next up? Tons of scuttlebutt about what these boats might start to look like and more wrangling regarding the date of the match. Will they foil? Can a foiling boat go to weather efficiently? I know their either going to be cats or trimarans (everyone keeps saying cats but I’m thinking they may be trimarans for windward performance or some sort of hybrid between the two to stiffen up the centerline of the boat).
~insert evil multihull sailor laughter here~
