MADRID (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.
In July Oracle, backed by US billionaire Larry Ellison, lodged a complaint at a New York court accusing Alinghi of adopting a protocol for the sailing showpiece which is unfairly weighed in the defender's favour.
Unless the two sides settle out of court, the case will be heard in a New York court on Monday.
In addition to seeking to change the new rules, which include the introduction of a new boat class, Oracle wants Alinghi to drop Desafio Espanol as its "challenger of record".
Oracle argues the Spanish syndicate is an invalid challenger since it never held a regatta as required under the regulations that govern the America's Cup known as the "deed of the gift".
A spokeswoman for Alinghi, backed by Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, meanwhile said she hoped a solution to the conflict could be found before Monday.
The protocol has already been amended and the challengers met last week to examine a proposal that they be allowed to choose one of the key design specifications of the new 90-foot boat which will be allowed to compete in the race, she recalled.
"Oracle must show good will, we are expecting a positive response" from the Americans to the proposals made last week," Michel Hodara, the head of America's Cup Management, the body organising the race for Alinghi, told AFP.
Alinghi won the right to organize the 33rd America's Cup after it completed a 5-2 victory over Emirates Team New Zealand in Valencia in July.
So far only five competitors have signed up for the 33rd America's Cup: new British group Team Origin, South Africa's Shosholoza, Team Germany, Desafio Espanol and Team New Zealand.
Representatives of these challengers were meeting in Valencia on Wednesday night to agree to a common position to urge Oracle to compromise and not block the event, a source told AFP.
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