Alinghi propose radical changes to America's Cup format

MADRID (Reuters) - Ernesto Bertarelli, head of America's Cup holders Alinghi, proposed radical changes on Friday to make the prestigious regatta a more open competition.

Under the current format, known as the Deed of Gift, challengers race each other to win the right to take on the defender in a head-to-head event, which is held in conditions decided by the defending team.

In an open letter, Bertarelli said the rules should be changed so that no one could manipulate them to their own benefit and that all teams -- including the defender -- should race each other for the Cup.

"The Deed of Gift was, after all, written over 150 years ago at the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and could not anticipate the changes that the world has undergone," Bertarelli said.

He also proposed setting a long-term schedule for future Cups.

The NYYC was the first winner of the Cup and set the rules for the event.

"I was not expecting the discussions to be completed swiftly but I was thrilled when Charles Townsend, Commodore of the NYYC and George W. Carmany III, Chairman of NYYC America's Cup Committee, expressed the same feelings."

This year, Alinghi won and set the rules for the next Cup with a Spanish yacht club, but the protocol was challenged by the U.S. team BMW Oracle, which won the case.

Bertarelli said he had also spoken to BMW Oracle head Larry Ellison who was supportive of the principles put forward.

He added that if these proposals could not be agreed upon, however, they would have to accept the challenge from BMW Oracle to race head-to-head in multi-hulls next year.

(Reporting by Mark Elkington, editing by Trevor Huggins)