Bertarelli has suggested scrapping the Deed of Gift

Under rules devised more than 150 years ago, the challengers race each other to decide who will take on the holders.

But in order to break a stalemate over the next event, Bertarelli, head of the defending champions, said it was time to revamp the competition.

The 2009 Cup is in doubt after a legal battle between Alinghi and BMW Oracle.

In an open letter, Bertarelli said the rules, known as the Deed of Gift, should be changed so that no one could manipulate them to their own benefit and to make it a more open competition.

He also proposed setting a long-term schedule for future America's Cups instead of the arbitrary nature of the calendar set by the defenders and official challenger, known as the Challenger of Record.

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"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.

Alinghi beat Team New Zealand to win the 32nd America's Cup, sailing's most prestigious prize, in Valencia, Spain, in July.

Soon after, Alinghi named Spain's Desafio Espanol as the Challenger of Record, and set the rules with a Spanish yacht club for the next Cup in Valencia in 2009.

But American syndicate BMW Oracle challenged the protocol, claiming Alinghi were building an unfair advantage, and took the Swiss team to court.

Organisers postponed the proposed 33rd America's Cup five days before the New York State Supreme Court found in BMW Oracle's favour.

The court ruled that Alinghi had chosen an illegitimate yacht club as challenger because it does not hold an annual regatta.

BMW Oracle's Golden Gate Yacht Club was installed as Challenger of Record but talks between the two teams have stalled.

Several teams have already entered the next America's Cup, including Mascalzone Latino of Italy, Shosholoza of South Africa, Team Origin of Britain, Team New Zealand and United Internet Team Germany.