America’s Cup, Team Origin si chiama fuori

America’s Cup – Londra – Ancor prima dell’apertura delle iscrizioni la 34ma Coppa America perde uno dei papabili protagonisti. Team Origin, il sindacato guidato da Sir Keith Mills che fu tra i primi a lanciarsi verso il futuro dopo la conclusione della 32ma America’s Cup, ha infatti annunciato che non presenterà alcuna sfida contro BMW Oracle Racing.

La decisione è stata assunta dopo aver letto il Protocollo della 34ma America’s Cup, averne studiato il format, la nuova classe, il calendario e determinato il budget necessario per poter essere competitivi. Dopo tutti questi step, Sir Keith Mills, principale arteficie dell’assegnazione dei Giochi Olimpici del 2012 a Londra, ha concluso che la prossima America’s Cup non sarà interessante dal punto di vista commerciale e per questo non si configura un contesto favorevole per tornare ad impegnare Team Origin.

“Dopo aver atteso tre anni per poter avanzare la nostra sfida, siamo davvero dispiaciuti di dover annunciare la nostra rinuncia – ha commentato Sir Keith Mills – Il format e il programma definito da BMW Oracle Racing sono a nostro modo di vedere non praticabili. Avevamo messo insieme un grande team, guidato da Grant Simmer e Ben Ainslie e sono davvero dispiaciuto che non possano prendere parte alla prossima Coppa America con un sindacato britannico”.

Sempre secondo fonti interne al team inglese, nel corso dei prossimi mesi Team Origin valuterà a quali eventi velici prendere parte nel corso dei prossimi anni.

AMERICA’S CUP, TEAM ORIGIN DECIDES AGAINST AMERICA’S CUP CHALLENGE
[Source Team Origin] Team Origin, the yacht racing team established by Sir Keith Mills, and skippered by triple Olympic Gold Medallist, Ben Ainslie, announced today that it will not be challenging for the next America’s Cup scheduled for 2013.

The team, which was set up in 2007, has been waiting for three years to enter the America’s Cup, which was delayed when the US team, BMW Oracle Racing, took the Swiss team, Alinghi, through the US courts. The US team won the court battle and won the 33rd America’s Cup Match to become the America’s Cup Defender in February this year. The new US Defender has recently announced the format for the next America’s Cup, including the rules and type of boat to be raced. Team Origin has also been briefed by the Defender and has made numerous comments on both the regatta rules and class rule.

Having now had a chance to analyse the race format, the proposed fixed wing catamaran boat, the timetable, rules and costs, Sir Keith has concluded that the 34th America’s Cup is neither viable commercially, nor an attractive sporting contest for Team Origin. Therefore he has decided that the team will not submit a challenge when the challenge period opens on 1 November.

Sir Keith Mills, Team Origin Team Principal, “After three years of waiting in the wings to enter a British team in the America’s Cup I am bitterly disappointed that we will not be competing. However, the format and timetable decided by the Defender is simply not viable for Team Origin. We have assembled an outstanding team, led by Grant Simmer and Ben Ainslie, and I am personally very sorry that they won’t now get the chance to race for a British team in the next America’s Cup”.

Over the next couple of months Team Origin will be considering whether it will compete in other yachting events over the next few years.

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