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AC Management, the organizers of the 32nd America's Cup, along with representatives of the Defending yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève, intend to communicate how many teams, if any, have submitted their challenge dossiers by the deadline on Friday afternoon. The identity of the teams and their status will also be revealed at that time.

Over the following days, more information will be released as appropriate to their status.

Prospective teams are still in contact with the Société Nautique de Genève and the event organizers, working to beat the deadline to become a challenger.

Earlier this week, the Defender and the Challenger of Record clarified the intent of the language in the Terms of Challenge, stating that the 'deadline' refers to receipt of all necessary information (bank drafts, Notice of Challenge, several other sworn documents), as opposed to the information having been evaluated and accepted as bona fide by the Société Nautique de Genève.

Yesterday, the second potential Spanish team confirmed they will not be joining Desafío Español as challengers for the 32nd America's Cup. DECISION Challenge, the team representing the Real Club Náutico de Madrid, sent a letter to the Challenger Commission from their Director General, Guillermo OLIVIÉ.

'The decision from our Main Sponsor did arrive yesterday [Wednesday - Ed] and they will not support our venture for this campaign, although we will work together for being challenging for the 33rd America's Cup. Therefore, we could not guarantee our team competitiveness for this America's Cup edition with the sole back-up of the supports we already had on-board.'

On Wednesday, Australia's OzBoyz Challenge also announced they would not be taking part in the 2007 America's Cup. Yesterday Team Dennis Conner (USA) also confirmed they will not be filing a challenge for the Cup and two weeks ago Team C7 Malaysia also fell by the wayside.

There are currently nine teams who will be challenging Defender, Alinghi (SUI).

Amongst the potential challengers that have until this afternoon to be accepted are teams from China and Germany, China Team and Fresh 17 respectively and Californian outfit, Sausalito Challenge (USA).

Teams

(Challengers in order of acceptance - correct to 28 April 2005)

• Team Alinghi (SUI) - Defender
  Société Nautique de Genève
• BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) - Challenger Of Record
  Golden Gate Yacht Club
• +39 Challenge (ITA)
  Circolo Vela Gargnano
• Team Shosholoza (RSA)
  Royal Cape Yacht Club
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)
  Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
• Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA)
  Yacht Club Italiano
• K-Challenge (FRA)
  Cercle de la Voile de Paris
• Victory Challenge (SWE)
  Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap
• DESAFIO ESPAÑOL (ESP)
  Real Federación Española de Vela
• MASCALZONE LATINO - CAPITALIA TEAM (ITA)
  Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia