America’s Cup: Alinghi drops challenge, but Grant Dalton doesn’t mind and responds

These are far from peaceful days for the America’s Cup and Grant Dalton, the big boss of Team New Zealand pulling the strings of organizing the next edition. After Ineos’ withdrawal, uncertainties about Ben Ainslie’s challenge that rumors say is not too financially sound, the Kiwis’ breakup with historic helmsman Peter Burling, comes another bombshell: Alinghi has no plans to participate in the next America’s Cup.

A lightning bolt almost out of the blue, since it seemed that the defender on the Protocol being drafted was willing to accommodate the requests of the Swiss team.

Alinghi. The statement

“We would have liked to have seen more accountability, more transparency, and new opportunities to compete not only individually, but also as a group. In this way, all together, we could have produced a commercially viable event that would have attracted global television coverage, viewers and sponsors. It is with great disappointment that we have initiated the dissolution of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team. The brands that were part of the team will always be in the history of the America’s Cup, and the last few years have been an incredible journey. We thank every team member, every sponsor and every supporter for their trust and commitment.” Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s communiqué puts it nicely.

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Grant Dalton’s response was not long in coming, in a note issued to New Zealand’s Stuff newspaper, and it was rather frosty:

“It is surprising to learn the news from Alinghi Red Bull Racing, although it had been quite obvious for some time that they were struggling to recover from their disappointing performance in Barcelona last October and to have an “in the water” opportunity to win. There were even specific concessions in the draft Protocol at Alinghi’s request that were accepted, such as the relaxation of the nationality rule to allow two foreigners to help them strengthen their sailing talents on board, as well as the establishment of working groups composed of representatives from all the teams to meet on racing formats and TV broadcasting initiatives.”

What happens now? There is no doubt that the America’s Cup, with the official exit of two challengers, and with uncertainties affecting the French as well, is greatly scaled down especially if no other challengers should emerge. There is, however, another side of the coin, which concerns Luna Rossa. A Cup with fewer challengers, with Team New Zealand weakened by Peter Burling’s exit, may represent an opportunity for the Italian team. It may not be a dream edition with few teams, but after a 25-year chase, why not try to make a splash and then reform the event? And if indeed the Protocol will contain exceptions to the nationality constraint, with a Peter Burling free of kiwi commitments….

Edited by Mauro Giuffrè