Russian Boat Is on the Way
Age of Russia, the syndicate that still thinks it will represent Russia in the America’s Cup but is not recognized by organizers as a legitimate challenger, said its boat will arrive in San Diego on Thursday or Friday.
The Aeroflot plane transporting Age of Russia’s boat was detained Friday in Anchorage because a mix-up in payment to Aeroflot was discovered after the plane had left Moscow. The plane, along with the boat, was sent back to Russia, but the crew reached San Diego on Saturday.
Aeroflot received its $150,000 transportation fee Monday and granted permission for the plane to leave Moscow, according to syndicate representative Natasha Grecheve. This progress, she said, indicates Age of Russia is better equipped than rival syndicate Red Star ’92 to mount a campaign in the challenger trials, beginning Jan. 25.
“The crew’s here, the boat’s sitting on a plane waiting to come here, we’re spending money. That’s a lot further than Red Star is,” she said.
Red Star’s boat is being built in Tallinn, Estonia, and is expected to arrive in San Diego no later than Jan. 10.
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