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MADRID - New British syndicate TeamOrigin challenged Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup today, the third team to join the yachting field aiming to wrest the "Auld Mug" away from the Swiss.
TeamOrigin was set up by Keith Mills, the businessman who helped London win the 2012 Olympic Games, and has its sights on at least the next two editions of the America's Cup, sailing's most prestigious prize.
TeamOrigin joins a new Spanish yacht club and South Africans Shosholoza on the list of challengers accepted by Alinghi for the next America's Cup, which is likely to be held in Valencia in 2009.
BMW Oracle, one of the strongest challengers in the last two America's Cups, has also challenged Alinghi but their bid has not yet been accepted.
The US syndicate have taken Alinghi's club Societe Nautique de Geneve to court in New York, arguing that they accepted an invalid challenge from the Spanish and alleging the guidelines for the next Cup unfairly favour Alinghi as defenders.
While that legal wrangle hangs in the air, Alinghi and its organising body ACM are widely expected to announce later this week that they have chosen to return to Valencia's glittering port for their second America's Cup defence.
"(We have) challenged for the America's Cup believing that a host city, a full regatta programme for the coming seasons and a class rule for the new boat to be used for the 33rd America's Cup Match will shortly be announced," TeamOrigin's syndicate head Mills said.
He added that he believed several other teams would soon join the challengers' list.
Alinghi have said the 33rd America's Cup will be raced in larger, faster boats but have not yet laid down the exact measurements. The Class rule, venue and timing of the next Cup all have to be announced by the end of the year.
"These are exciting times for the America's Cup competition. A new class of boat will put all challengers, old and new, on an equal footing," TeamOrigin's team director Mike Sanderson said.
"The introduction of a new class of boat and should deliver faster sailing and a more exciting spectacle."
Britain hosted the first America's Cup in 1851 but her fleet was trounced by the schooner "America", after whom the trophy was named.
Britain has challenged for the Cup 20 times since then but to no avail, despite boasting some of the best sailors in Olympic and round-the-world classes.
TeamOrigin said it would present Britain's new America's Cup team on September 14.
- REUTERS