Court Halts America’s Cup Announcement

A court order obtained by a New Zealand syndicate put San Diego’s America’s Cup planning on hold Tuesday, a day before the site and dates for the next defense were to be formally announced.

According to a press release issued from Auckland, the temporary restraining order issued by the New York State Supreme Court bars the San Diego Yacht Club from taking any action regarding the next America’s Cup defense, pending a court hearing in New York next Wednesday.

Michael Fay heads the New Zealand Challenge seeking to force San Diego to defend the Cup next June, instead of in 1991 as planned. Since he handed the challenge to club commodore Fred Frye over lunch July 17, he said, he has not received a formal response.

Fay’s lawyers filed the request for a restraining order Monday, and Sail America was served Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the press conference was scheduled to start. The order was sought in New York because that state’s high court is the custodian of the Deed of Gift, a 100-year-old document that stipulates conditions for challenging for, and sailing for, the Cup.