MADRID, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Stalled talks aimed at resolving a dispute between champions Alinghi of Switzerland and US sydicate Oracle that could see a postponement of the 2009 America's Cup in Spain are to be resumed on Monday in the US, organisers said on Sunday.

The head of organisers AC Management, Michel Hodara, told AFP that the two sides would talk again informally before a court case over the new rules governing the event that were proposed by Alinghi get underway in New York.

MADRID, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Talks aimed at resolving a dispute between champions Alinghi of Switzerland and US sydicate Oracle that could wreck the 2009 America's Cup in Spain have broken down, the Americans said late Saturday.

The failure to resolve their differences over the organisation of the event will likely lead to the competition, due to be held in Valencia, being postponed to a later date, specialists said.

MADRID, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's Desafio Espanol are to blame for the America's Cup crisis triggered by the new set of rules laid down by champions Alinghi, Polish skipper Karol Jablonski claims.

Jablonski made the attack on his old team in an interview here Saturday, arguing that Desafio, as the official 'Challenger of Record', should never have accepted the controversial protocol proposed by Alinghi.

MADRID, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate Oracle is poised to make a 'constructive proposal' aimed at ending the damaging legal dispute with champions Alinghi which is threatening the 2009 America's Cup in Spain.

'We are giving urgent consideration to what it takes to resolve this,' a spokeswoman for Oracle and Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) of San Francisco which represents the US syndicate told AFP, on Wednesday.

'We hope to soon have a constructive proposal that we will then look forward to discussing with the challengers and defender,' she said.

MADRID, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Top American yachtsman Paul Cayard was on Friday named as sporting director of Spain's Desafio Espanol team for the next America's Cup.

Cayard, 48, a veteran of six Cups, was an advisor to Desafio for last year's event in Valencia in which the Spaniards made the semi-final of the Louis-Vuitton Cup, the winner of which determines who challenges for the America's Cup.

Desafio Espanol is one of five officially registered challengers who hope to take on Swiss defending champion Alinghi in Valencia in 2009.

MADRID, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - There were encouraging signs at a meeting of challengers for the 33rd America's Cup aimed at ending a legal dispute that is threatening the event but much work remains to be done, sources close to the talks said on Thursday.

The conflict pits Switzerland's Alinghi against US syndicate Oracle who argue that the new rules for the yachting race are unfairly weighed in the defender's favour.

MADRID, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Official and potential challengers for the 33rd America's Cup will meet Wednesday in Valencia to try to iron out a legal dispute that is threatening the next edition of the event set for 2009.

It will be an 'informal meeting' aimed at ending a conflict over the new rules for the yachting race that has pit defending champion Alinghi against US syndicate Oracle, a source close to the talks told AFP.

MADRID, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Oracle skipper Russell Coutts has urged defending America's Cup champions Alinghi to negotiate a solution to a legal dispute that is threatening the next edition in Spain in 2009.

Oracle took legal action in the United States against Alinghi in July over new rules adopted by Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup which they say are unfairly weighed in the defender's favour such as the right to bar teams from the race.

MADRID, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The next America's Cup, scheduled to be held in Spain in 2009, may be postponed due to legal wrangling over competition rules, the organisers said Wednesday.

'As a consequence of the uncertainty and the delays arising from the Golden Gate Yacht Club law suit in New York, AC Management is concerned that the feasibility of organising the next America's Cup in Valencia in 2009 has been effectively compromised,' ACM said in a statement.

MADRID, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The next America's Cup, scheduled to be held in Spain in 2009, may be postponed due to legal wrangling over competition rules, the organisers said Wednesday.

'As a consequence of the uncertainty and the delays arising from the Golden Gate Yacht Club law suit in New York, AC Management is concerned that the feasibility of organising the next America's Cup in Valencia in 2009 has been effectively compromised,' ACM said in a statement.

MADRID, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - New Zealand's Simon Daubney, a crew member of America's Cup winners Alinghi, has tested positive for substances linked to cocaine during this year's competition in Spain, organizers said Monday.

Alinghi announced on Thursday that Daubney had resigned after he tested positive for a banned substance, confirming a report in Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport that one of its team members had returned a positive test.

MADRID, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Simon Daubney, a crew member of America's Cup winners Alinghi, said Thursday he has tested positive for cannabis and had resigned but intended to prove his innocence.

In a statement seen in Madrid by AFP, Genoa trimmer Daubney confirmed an Italian media report that a team member had returned a positive test, the first recorded relating to the world's oldest sporting event.

'Yesterday (Wednesday), I went before the five-man 32nd America's Cup Jury in London regarding a positive doping test taken on 23 June 2007.

ROME, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - A crew member on the boat of America's Cup winners Alinghi tested positive for cannabis, the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Thursday.

The newspaper did not cite any sources, nor the name or nationality of the crew member who is no longer a member of the Swiss team, but said that the person was not Italian.

Alinghi's spokesman refused to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.

MADRID, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - French syndicate K-Challenge is preparing its 2009 America's Cup campaign and hopes to have found a major sponsor by the end of next month to help finance a minimum budget of 30 million euros.

Stephane Kandler, who heads the syndicate, said he was in talks with potential sponsors in France and abroad, as well as private investors, to try and quickly find a main sponsor who will provide half of the budget.

'The team is ready,' Kandler told AFP. 'Now we need sponsors.'

MADRID, Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle has dismissed amendments to the controversial new protocol of the next America's Cup in 2009 in Spain by defending champions Alinghi as 'cosmetic'.

'We welcome some of the points but the changes are largely cosmetic and the central issues are not being addressed,' a spokeswoman for Oracle told AFP.

Oracle and other challengers have since July contested the new rules put forward by Alinghi, arguing they favour the defending champions.

MADRID, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said Thursday they had amended the newly-proposed rules for the next America's Cup in 2009 in Valencia, Spain, to take into account of criticism made by the challengers.

Alinghi and their Swiss yacht club Societe Nautique de Geneve said in a statement that the 'majority' of BMW Oracle's concerns had been addressed and they renewed their appeal for the team to drop their legal challenge which threatens to derail the event.

STARNBERG, Germany, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - German yachtsman Jochen Schumann, a triple Olympic champion and double America's Cup winner, has been appointed sporting director of the United Internet Team Germany challenge for the world's oldest sports trophy.

Team Germany is one of four challengers already registered to compete in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup which will take place in Valencia, Spain in 2009.

BERLIN, Sept 15, 2007 (AFP) - German yachtsman Jochen Schuemann, a triple Olympic champion and part of the winning Alinghi teams in 2003 and 2007, is set to join Germany's America's Cup team United Internet TEAM Germany.

According to German radio station NDR, Schuemann's arrival should be formally announced in a press conference on Wednesday and Schuemann will be responsible for recruiting TEAM Germany's crew.

The German team have already recruited Poland's Karol Jablonski, the former cox of Spanish team Desafio Espanol.

NEW YORK, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - The New York State Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear arguments on October 22 in the America's Cup yacht-racing row if champions Alinghi and US challenger Oracle can't resolve their rules dispute.

At Monday's hearing, the court also urged the warring parties to continue to try to settle their differences out of court.

'We are very pleased with this decision, as we are keen to see this issue properly resolved with a minimum of further delay,' said Tom Ehman, head of external affairs for the Golden Gate Yacht Club's team BMW Oracle.

MADRID, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - The Spanish challenger for the 2009 America's Cup will match this year's budget of 60 million euros (82 million dollars) with 12 million for the design of a bigger boat, the Desafio Espanol syndicate announced on Monday.

The 12 million euros will be used for design of a 90 foot (30 metre) yacht, larger and faster than the current America class, and wanted by Swiss cup holder Alinghi for the 33rd edition of the race, said Desafio boss, Agustin Zulueta.

MADRID, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - Reigning champions Alinghi and American challenger Oracle are having discussions in attempts to resolve their judicial wrangle over competition rules for the next America's Cup in 2009.

An Oracle spokesman told AFP: 'We are talking with them (Alinghi). There have been some discussions.' However a New York court is expected to make an initial ruling on the case on Monday.

GENEVA, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said Wednesday that they would forge ahead with plans for the next America's Cup by meeting the official challengers from next week to draw up new boat rules.

Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth and legal counsel Hamish Ross were adamant that a legal challenge to the defender's plans by team BMW Oracle would not derail preparations for the 33rd America's Cup in Valencia in 2009.

MADRID, Aug 24, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said on Friday they are confident they are in the right over the legal row which could scupper the America's Cup in Valencia in 2009.

A day after a New York court called on the Geneva Nautical Society (SNG) representing the holders to respond swiftly to questions on new proposed rules and lift the legal cloud hanging over yachting's most prestigious event Alinghi said they had nothing to fear.

MADRID, Aug 23, 2007 (AFP) - A New York court Thursday called on the Geneva Nautical Society (SNG) to respond swiftly to questions on new proposed America's Cup rules amid a legal wrangle which threatens the next edition, but the Swiss promptly accused their rivals of destabilising the tournament.

A legal cloud hangs over the world's most prestigious yachting event in Valencia, Spain in 2009, after the Swiss, representing champions Alinghi, unveiled a new race protocol which some challengers say will benefit the holders.

MADRID, Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) - America's Cup champions Alinghi said Monday they would not go back on hotly contested rule changes which the Swiss syndicate plan to introduce for the next event scheduled for 2009 in Valencia, Spain.

'We have no intention of going back (on decisions that have been taken),' Michel Hodara, the chief operating officer of America's Cup Management (ACM), set up by Alinghi to organize the yacht race, told AFP.

MADRID, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle's new Kiwi skipper Russell Coutts on Sunday called on America's Cup champions Alinghi to row back on rule changes the Swiss syndicate plans to introduce for the next event, scheduled for 2009 in Valencia.

'The solution is very simple: go back to a protocol that made the last edition so successful,' said Coutts, regarded as one of the greatest America's Cup skippers, having won the trophy three times in 1995, 2000 and then with Alinghi in 2003.

HAMBURG, Germany, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - German syndicate United Internet Team Germany confirmed on Sunday it will compete in the 2009 America's Cup race and hopes to recruit the services of Olympic gold-medallist Jochen Schuemann.

'After a German boat competed in the Cup's qualifying event this year, it is our duty to sailing in Germany to continue the experience,' said Michael Scheeren, the owner of the German challenger.

Swiss team Alinghi retained the trophy earlier this year and announced the 33rd Cup will again be contested in the Spanish port of Valencia.

MILAN, Aug 3, 2007 (AFP) - The Italian challenger Luna Rossa will not enter the 2009 America's Cup race in Valencia, captain Patrizio Bertelli of the fashion group Prada said Friday.

'We've had 10 very intense years,' Bertelli said in a statement.

'It was an unforgettable experience, but we decided that after three challenges, a cycle is over.'

Luna Rossa were knocked out of this year's qualifying competition, the Louis Vuitton Cup, in Valencia 5-0 by Emirates Team New Zealand, with the Kiwis going on to lose the final 5-2 against defender Alinghi.

MADRID, Aug 3, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle is making plans to challenge America's Cup defenders Alinghi as early as 2008, subject to a bitter legal row which could hold up the scheduled 2009 competition in Valencia, Spain.

Well-informed sources told AFP on Friday that Oracle, owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, had already been in touch with french boat designers to built a 90-foot catamaran boat for use in a 2008 challenge.

MADRID, Spain, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Several syndicates hoping to join five confirmed starters in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup yachting showpiece in Valencia in 2009 have called for more information on proposed new rules from defending Swiss champions Alinghi, it emerged Thursday.

US team BMW Oracle has already launched a legal challenge in New York against a new proposed protocol which the Americans fear would benefit the holders and other teams also have concerns.

MADRID, Spain, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Four syndicates hoping to compete in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup yachting showpiece in Valencia in 2009 have called for more information on proposed new rules from defending Swiss champions Alinghi, it emerged Thursday.

US team BMW Oracle has already launched a legal challenge in New York against a new proposed protocol which the Americans fear would benefit the holders and other teams also have concerns.

VALENCIA, Spain, July 25, 2007 (AFP) - The Spanish city of Valencia, which hosted the 32nd edition of the America's Cup that just wrapped up, will stage the next edition of the yachting race in 2009, organizers said on Wednesday.

The announcement was made in Valencia on Spain's eastern seaboard by Alinghi yachting boss, Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, whose syndicate just won the 2007 race and the right to decide the location of the next tournament.

VALENCIA, Spain, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - British syndicate Team Origin, represented by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, is to compete as a challenger in the next edition of the America`s Cup, almost certain to be held in 2009 in Valencia, the Geneva Nautical Society (SNG) said on Tuesday.

SNG, representing defending champions Alinghi, formally accepted Team Origin, a syndicate launched earlier this year by British businessman Sir Keith Mills, in a statement seen by AFP.

VALENCIA, Spain / , July 24, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle on Tuesday unveiled New Zealand helmsman Russell Coutts as skipper and CEO for the next edition of the America's Cup, almost certain to be held in 2009 in Valencia.

'I am very delighted to be here. It is a great opportunity for me, a great leadership role offered to me by BMW Oracle,' Coutts told a news conference in Valencia.

VALENCIA, Spain, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - New Zealand helmsman Russell Coutts said on Tuesday he had joined US syndicate BMW Oracle for the next edition of the America's Cup which will probably be held in 2009 in Valencia.

'I am very delighted to be here, it is a great opportunity for me, the great leadership role offered to me by BMW Oracle,' he told a news conference in Valencia.

MADRID, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - An agreement is due within days to allow Valencia once again to stage the America's Cup in 2009, informed sources said on Monday.

Valencia was widely seen as having been a successful host of the 32nd edition of the Cup, retained by Swiss syndicate Alinghi this summer, following the city's multimillion investment and overhaul of the port area.