New Zealand announces Alinghi’s return to the America’s Cup

According to the New Zealand Herald, Alinghi is said to have already paid the $1.5 million entrance fee. But is this also true? There was no comment from Alinghi at the request of Keystone-SDA news agency. The PR department only said that Alinghi will contact the media in the next few days.

The Alinghi Syndicate, backed by Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, won the America’s Cup for the first time (and first landlocked country) in 2003. Four years later, Alinghi successfully defended the title of Valencia. Then, for Alinghi, the action moved from the water to the courtroom. American yacht club Golden Gate, headed by patron Larry Ellison, founder of the American software company Oracle, fought an unspeakable legal battle with Alinghi that turned into a legal quarrel.

In the end, the Americans had a duel with Alinghi in court and won 2-0 in February 2010. Since then, Alinghi has moved away from the America’s Cup. Alinghi has remained a factor in the sport of sailing and has celebrated notable victories with two successes in the Extreme Sailing Series.

The Organized Royal New Zealand Yachting Squadron said several guilds took part in the 37th America’s Cup on the first day. The odds are good that more than three competitors (such as 2021) will take part in the upcoming event in 2024. Competitors can register until the end of May 2023. In March, New Zealanders want to announce when and where the 37th America’s Cup, considered the world’s oldest sports trophy, will sail.