 Britain will be looking for a first victory in the America's Cup |
British syndicate Team Origin has joined the field to challenge Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup in 2009. Team Origin joins a new Spanish yacht club and South Africans Shosholoza as the third team on the list of challengers accepted by Alinghi.
Alinghi have said the next America's Cup will be raced in larger, faster boats but have not yet specified the Class rule, venue and timing.
Team Origin will present Britain's new America's Cup team on 14 September.
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"These are exciting times for the America's Cup competition," said Team Origin's team director Mike Sanderson.
"A new class of boat will put all challengers, old and new, on an equal footing.
"The introduction of a new class of boat should deliver faster sailing and a more exciting spectacle."
Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli met Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Monday to discuss returning the America's Cup to Valencia in 2009.
Britain has not won the America's Cup since its inception off the Isle of Wight in 1851, and last competed in the event in 2002 before losing in the quarter-finals in Auckland.
The GBR Challenge syndicate subsequently folded, leaving Britain with no entry for this year's event in Spain, hosted by defending Swiss champions Alinghi.
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