Spanish Yacht Club Can Vie for America’s Cup

NEW YORK (CN) - A Spanish yacht club has the right to battle for the America's Cup yachting trophy, despite the fact that it has not held an annual regatta, the New York Appellate Division ruled.

Golden Gate Yacht Club, another Cup challenger, argued that Club Nautico Espanol de Vela did not qualify to challenge Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), which won the Cup in 2003 and successfully defended it in 2007.

The gift deed that governs the passing of the Cup contains the language "having for its annual regatta."

Judge DeGrasse ruled that the language is not clear about whether a yacht club can only qualify by having held regattas in the past.

To clear up the confusion, DeGrasse noted that Club Nautico did have other attributes of a legitimate yacht club, such as an address, bylaws and a board of directors. Thus, the appellate division concluded that the defendant has the right to vie for the America's Cup.

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