MEDIA STATEMENT -- CC Meeting, 20 April 2007

The Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup (“CC”) met at the call of the Chair, Alessandra Pandarese (ITA) of Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team, at the ACM offices in Valencia at 0800 this morning, Friday 20 April. Representatives of all eleven Challengers were present.

Main decisions and points of discussion:

+ The Regatta Director's proposal to "re-boot" (our word, not his) Round Robin 1 was unanimously supported. This means Flights 1 and 2 previously re-scheduled for today, originally a reserve day, would be sailed (attempted!). Going forward, subsequent flights will be raced in sequence, two flights per day, i.e., Flights 3 and 4 tomorrow (Saturday), etc. If one or both of today's flights are postponed, they would be rescheduled for tomorrow, kept in sequence, and the balance of the RR1 schedule pushed back accordingly. RR1 will be completed before any races of RR2 are started. However, when some but not all matches of a given flight (of ten matches) are completed, the uncompleted matches will be rescheduled later in RR1 (on a race or reserve day) as the Regatta Director deems equitable and expedient.

+ The Regatta Director will work on the pairing list to equalize to the extent possible use among teams of the buoyed courses and the north inner course (the so-called "stadium course") which will be the primary racing area later in the LVC and for the Match, and to minimize if not eliminate the need for any team to have to swap course areas on a two-race day.

+ There will be no relaxation of the minimum 7kt wind limit or shortening of courses, nor more than two flights scheduled per day.

+ The CC kept their options open so far as how to proceed beyond the end of RR1 given the challenging forecasts for continued light air today, Saturday and Sunday. Open issues include whether or not an "off day" should be scheduled at the completion of RR1 regardless how late RR1 ends. Also under consideration is whether to delay the start of the LVC Semifinals by a day or two assuming RR2 runs long.

+ The CC affirmed its long-held view that a high priority for RR2 is to have no more than one race per day and over the longer (3.3nm) course that will be used in the LVC Semis, Finals and the AC Match.