The owner of the American club’s BMW Oracle racing team has made public a letter he sent to Alinghi.

Speaking for the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), he made a renewed call for the America’s Cup Defender to confirm whether it will agree to a mutual consent challenge so that planning for the next regatta can go ahead.

This follows a meeting in New York qualified by Alinghi as "cordial" , whilst the American club said he was "disappointed that Alinghi representatives were only prepared to discuss a new vision for the Deed of Gift rather than concrete proposals"

"As I told you on the phone last weekend I see nothing wrong with discussing potential changes to the Deed of Gift", Ellison wrote. "However, those discussions must not be allowed to delay the next America’s Cup".

"For months now, BMW Oracing Racing has been asking Alinghi to agree to an America’s Cup in Valencia in 2009", he added. "We and the other challengers have agreed to race in the new 90-foot boats, and we have proposed a fair format endorsed by most of the other challengers".

On December 4, GGYC sent Alinghi a proposal for a conventional regatta in Valencia in 2009 that was supported by many challengers. Alinghi has not responded to this.

"We’ve received a letter about your vision; we need a letter about your decision", Ellison concluded. "Ernesto, are we going to have a challenger selection series and an America’s Cup in Valencia in 2009? Please give us your answer".

Meanwhile in Valencia, the Americas Cup 2007 Consortium, the public company that administers the last Americas Cup met, amidst concern over the future of the 33rd edition of the event.

Following the meeting, it became clear that the Madrid Government would agree to spend 16 million Euros on personnel costs and maintenance fees that was still outstanding from the 32nd edition of the Cup. Elena Salgado, the Public Administrations Minister added that a budget of six million Euros would be made available in order that the Consortium remain active in 2008.

However, by far the most interesting aspect of the meeting was the declaration by the Minister that important financial benefits would be granted to those syndicates that maintained a permanent base in Valencia, where or not future editions of the event take place in Valencia.