Dates set for America's Cup
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Article Date: 2007-11-09
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A starting date of July 18th 2009 has been set for the 33rd America's Cup, and in a break with tradition, the defending champions, Alinghi, will participate in the round-robin stages, organisers have announced.
Complex new rules mean that the Swiss team will now be able to take part in the early elimination races and the semi-finals in May, by way of a practice run and to test their boat before the actual final.
Other rule changes mean that the challengers will be allowed two boats in the new bigger, faster AC90 class, but they cannot train with both boats at the same time and only one can be used in the preliminary round.
The dispute between Alinghi and US syndicate Oracle over concerns the new rules give the Swiss team an unfair advantage, still cast something of dark cloud over the event, with Oracle's legal challenge getting underway in a New York court earlier this month.
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