Terms of the Deed

Here are the relevant terms of the America’s Cup Deed of Gift, as amended by the Supreme Court of the State of New York on Dec. 17, 1956, and April 5, 1985, that are the focus of the dispute between the San Diego Yacht Club and the New Zealand Challenge syndicate:

- Any organized Yacht Club of a foreign country, incorporated, patented, or licensed by the legislature, admiralty, or other executive department, having for its annual regatta an ocean water course on the sea, or on an arm of the sea, or one which combines both, shall always be entitled to the right of sailing a match for this Cup . . .

- The competing yachts or vessels, if of one mast, shall be not less than forty-four feet nor more than ninety feet on the load waterline . . .

- The Challenging Club shall give ten months’ notice in writing, naming the days for the proposed races; but no race shall be sailed in the days intervening between November 1st and May 1st if the races are to be conducted in the Northern Hemisphere; and no race shall be sailed in the days intervening between May 1st and November 1st if the races are to be conducted in the Southern Hemisphere.

- The Club challenging for the Cup and the Club holding the same may, by mutual consent, make any arrangement satisfactory to both as to the dates, courses, number of trials, rules and sailing regulations, and any and all other conditions of the match, in which case also the ten months’ notice may be waived.

- In case the parties cannot mutually agree upon the terms of a match, then three races shall be sailed, and the winner of two of such races shall be entitled to the Cup.