And here by coincidence is the SNG calendar

Société Nautique de Genève congratulate Alinghi on their America's Cup success...and more

Can this be coincidence? Following the Golden Gate Yacht Club issuing a fresh challenge for the 33rd America's Cup to the defending club, the Société Nautique de Genève, on the basis that the challenge from the Club Nautico Espanol de Vela is invalid, so the SNG have issued a press release. This came through this morning and not last week immediately after Alinghi's win and it also mentions nothing about the GGYC's new attempted challenge. The thrust of it is 'nice job Alinghi' and, for no particular reason, then waxes lyrical about other events held by the Club coming up this year: the Semaine de la Voile and the Solitaire des Séries and the Translémanique en solitaire and Geneva International Match Race, etc.

The release also includes a list of regattas including the 'Annual Regatta on the Sea' in Cannes in September, the key regatta it must hold in order to be a valid challenger for the America's Cup.

Given that everything in the America's Cup is laden with politics and subtext, could the real message of the SNG's release be "before you ask - yes, we do have a regatta on the sea"? While BMW Oracle Racing via the GGYC are currently querying the validity of the Spanish challenge, this does answer the obvious question frequently raised about how valid is Alinghi's campaign given that it has challenged and defended now through the SNG based on the shores of land locked Lake Geneva.

Remaining 2007 SNG Calendar:

July 2007
09.07.07 - 14.07.07 Semaine Voile & Solitaire des Séries

August 2007
04.08.07 - 04.08.07 Coupe du Petit Lac
05.08.07 - 05.08.07 Critérium Grand Surprise
12.08.07 - 18.08.07 Croisière Eynard

September 2007
08.09.07 - 09.09.07 100ème Anniversaire Henry Copponnex, à Nyon
15.09.07 - 16.09.07 Translémanique en solitaire
23.09.07 - 24.09.07 Régates annuelles en mer, à Cannes
28.09.07 - 30.09.07 Championnat Série Grand Surprise

October 2007
06.10.07 - 07.10.07 Finale des Surprise
12.10.07 - 14.10.07 Geneva International Match Race

Ironically if you go on to the SNG website and click on the link to the event on 23 September it reads "actualite non valide"!

Any views on all this - please email us here