Alinghi accept Valencia as venue

Swiss team Alinghi are the holders of the America's Cup

America's Cup holders Alinghi have accepted Valencia as the venue for next year's defence against BMW Oracle.

Plans to hold the event in the United Arab Emirates were blocked by a court ruling that it must be staged in the southern hemisphere or in Valencia.

Alinghi launched an appeal and also put forward the suggestion of the east coast of Australia as host.

The Swiss team now say they will accept Valencia but the offer of an Australian venue "remains on the table".

Oracle responded by saying they were "very pleased to see that SNG/Alinghi have finally agreed with us that Valencia in February is the correct venue to hold the 33rd America's Cup".

Alinghi had wanted to race American challenger BMW Oracle Racing in the Persian Gulf port of Ras al-Khaimah in February.

But the New York Supreme Court pointed to a 19th century document preventing the event taking place in the northern hemisphere between 1 November and 1 May.

I think I speak for the community when I say we want the Cup sorted out as soon as possible on the water Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper

In a letter to the court, Alinghi's yacht club - Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) - said talks to resolve the long legal fight with San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) had broken down.

An Alinghi statement said: "GGYC's reaction has been to try to delay the Cup and to continue to try and gain competitive advantage while SNG attended the meetings in good faith with the objective of finding a settlement.

"While SNG confirms Valencia as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010, the offer to GGYC of an Australian venue for the same date remains on the table until 13 November 2009 provided GGYC agrees to withdraw all legal actions."

Alinghi skipper, Brad Butterworth, added: "We went into the talks in good faith, ready to make concessions in order to guarantee the return of the Cup to the water for a February duel between two state of the art multihulls, but sadly once again BMW Oracle were in power grab mode.

"This time their priority was to delay the race because they are not ready. Originally they pushed for February when it was to their advantage. Now they have to live with their choice of date.

"I think I speak for the community when I say we want the Cup sorted out as soon as possible on the water."