Yachting Australia chief executive Phil Jones says his organisation has no interest in being part of America's Cup syndicate OzBoyz Challenge.
The Australian syndicate, headed by businessman Phillip Edmiston and former Le Defi tactician Sebastien Destremau, last week announced they were keen to align themselves with Yachting Australia rather than a yacht club. This goes against cup rules which state teams must represent a yacht club.
OzBoyz missed the first challenger entry deadline, which passed on Friday, but issued a statement just before the deadline saying they were keen to join forces with Yachting Australia but Yachting Australia could not commit until April, which is when the second and final deadline falls.
However, in a statement on the Yachting Australia website Jones said the America's Cup had long been a contest between yacht clubs and Yachting Australia "would not wish to be involved in challenging this".
Jones said Yachting Australia was an organisation made up of yacht clubs and their members and one of their primary purposes was to provide support and services to the clubs.
"We do not believe that our members would consider a direct involvement with the America's Cup, with the financial and other risks associated, to be either desirable or appropriate ...
"We would urge OzBoyz to conclude negotiations with the yacht clubs ... Yachting Australia is not in a position to enter any partnership or other arrangement with OzBoyz to mount a challenge for the America's Cup."
The Spanish syndicate Desafio Iberdrola are also keen to sail under the Spanish Yachting Federation banner. But Spain's ABC.es newspaper reported that K-Challenge, Luna Rossa and +39 may protest.
Yachting: Syndicate still looking for backer
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