Friday, October 1, 2010

Team Origin opt out of 2013 Cup

Team Origin
Sir Keith Mills has decided not to enter Team Origin in the 2013 Cup

Britain's Team Origin, skippered by triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, will not challenge for the next America's Cup, scheduled for 2013.

BMW Oracle, who by winning the Cup in February are charged with organising the event, unveiled a controversial raft of new ideas and rules.

That has prompted Team Origin principal Sir Keith Mills not to enter his team.

"The format and timetable decided by BMW Oracle is simply not viable for Team Origin," he said in a statement.

The new ideas and rules introduced by BMW Oracle ruffled feathers among potential challengers as these had never featured in the consultation process pledged by the Americans as part of their promise for a neutral, independent and fair event.

I am bitterly disappointed that we will not be competing

Team Origin principal Sir Keith Mills

A Team Origin statement read: "The team, which was set up in 2007, has been waiting for three years to enter the America's Cup.

"[However], having now had a chance to analyse [BMW Oracle's] race format, the proposed fixed wing catamaran boat, the timetable, rules and costs, team principal Sir Keith Mills has concluded that the 34th America's Cup is neither viable commercially, nor an attractive sporting contest for Team Origin."

Mills added: "I am bitterly disappointed that we will not be competing.

"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 consider whether to compete in other yachting events "over the next few years".

Potenshöjande medel -

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