Just as we started to get excited at the prospect of some racing in two extraordinary boats, the legal squabbles started again. A statement from BMW Oracle Racing’s yacht club (GGYC) accuses Alinghi of believing that, ‘the Deed and other rules do not apply to them.’

As an example, the American yacht club takes issue with Alinghi’s plans to use powered winch systems to trim sails and move ballast in contravention to the ISAF rules.

Perhaps more surprising is the GGYC’s claim that, ‘An ISAF Executive Committee member has acknowledged that on June 5, 2009, SNG (or its racing team Alinghi) paid ISAF ?150,000 pursuant to a secret agreement making certain arrangements concerning ISAF’s role in, and the “rules and sailing regulations” for, the next Cup match.

All of which has led the GGYC back to court for a hearing that is due to take place on Tuesday 21 at 10am local time New York in which it will ask why the SNG ‘should not be held in contempt of court for failing to comply with the America’s Cup Deed of Gift.’

The move sparked a predictable response from Alinghi and the SNG claiming that it was, ‘again a disappointment that the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) chooses to pursue its litigious strategy instead of fighting for the America’s Cup on the water.’

Having said that, the SNG has also been pursuing the issue of GGYC’s apparent refusal to complete the Customs House Registry and declare precisely what boat it intends to put forward for the Cup match.

Dare we imagine what might happen in the protest room if these two ever get to fight it out on the water?