TEAMORIGIN APPLAUDS ALINGHI PROTOCOL

Perhaps with stiff upper lip and heavy doses of lager and lime, England's oldest yacht club, the one that was challenged for the ORIGINAL America's Cup in the 19th century, will be announcing, publicly, its views regarding America's Cup 32 in July and the subsequent issuance of the new Protocol governing the next one. They had a great time and support Alinghi in the next one.

Regarding the Golden Gate Yacht Club's (a.k.a., GGYC and BMW/Oracle) disputes regarding America's Cup 32 this year, they are clearly in the wrong. The elements defining a yacht club supporting a Challenger of Record (not GGYC) have been met. The Challenger of Record (CNEV, a new Spanish yacht club) is recognised by the Real Federation of Espanol de Vela, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation and will host host regattats by year end.

In this regard, TEAMORIGIN bluntly will be announcing:

"TEAMORIGIN therefore recognises the ligitimacy of the Challenger of Record and hence the Protocol, and is mounting its challenge operations for the 33rd America's Cup baed on this Protocol. We accept the validity of the Protocol and belive that it fundamentally allows challenging teams a fair opportunity to compete in the America's Cup. I urge the GGY and BMW Oracle Racing to Withdraw their lawsuits and spurious challenge, which can only damage the reputation of the America's Cup."

They suggest the court challenges be withdrawn and that the real competitions should be "conducted in the water...not the courtroom"

They added:

"ACM (the America's Cup Management) ran a fantastic event this Spring, not only from a sports and entertainment point of view, but also by setting the standards on a number of non-sports aspects placing the America's Cup firmly in the 21st century, in amongst the most important sporting competitions in the world today. Alinghi and ACM should be complimented on running an event in Valencia that has had a massively positive impact, not only on the America's Cup, but the sport of sailing as a whole," comments Sir Keith Mills.

Regarding the next Cup match-up in 2009:

"We do not believe that the new Protocol will have a negative impact on the future of the America's Cup. To the contrary, we believe it provides a platform for further growth and some real opportunities for those who decide to challenge," continued Sr. Keith.

They applaud the new format:

* It introduces a new 90-foot yacht to the competition (All Challengers will be EQUAL, not sailing against the winning Alinghi boat from America's Cup 32 this year)
* It prohibits 2-boat testing (cutting costs, perhaps dramatically)
* It allows for regular, official racing to be conducted in Valencia, Spain, the same venue to be so teams may race their opponents in practice match-ups, making sponsors (and boat designers) happy.

Finally, they note that the new ACM has "acted quickly and constructively" in announcing:

1. The next host city (Valencia, Spain) and the race in July 2009.
2. They've invited the Challengers to PARTICIPATE in a series of meetings, starting this month and concluding next month, to DEFINE the new Class Rule(s).
3. They're putting into place a three-member Arbitration Panel, two of whom were members of the International Jury of this year's Cup event.

The Royal thames Yacht Club, located in the Knightsbridge section of central London, is headed by no less than HRH Duke of York. They'll be trumpeting these words at the Southhampton Boat Show in a week or two.

And, remember, these words come, voluntarily, from a CHALLENGER who lost in the previous match-ups. Biff has heard of good sports, but this raises the bar!!! As Oprah might say: "You go, Guys!"