America’s Cup Must Be 1-on-1

The San Diego Yacht Club and a New Zealand group must race one-on-one in the America’s Cup sailing competition since they cannot agree on terms to allow a British yacht club to participate in the 140-year-old regatta, a Manhattan judge ruled today.

The ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Carmen B. Ciparick eliminates the Royal Burnham Yacht Club of Britain, which had asked the court to block the race unless it was allowed to compete. The judge said the trust document that established rules for the race must be interpreted literally if a valid challenger and the champion cannot agree on competition terms.