For the first time in the America's Cup's illustrious 160-year history, the United States may not be represented in the competition for the world's oldest sporting trophy.

We, the members of the Sailing Anarchy Yacht Club (SAYC), the host club of the "Anarchy Challenge" sailing team and a bona fide Yacht Club, and our supporters in the global sailing community, are mystified as to ACM's apparent rejection of SAYC's entry for the 33rd America's Cup.

As the lone entry from the United States of America the nation with the most prominent part in the history of the America's Cup - we are disappointed with the lack of respect and due process afforded our entry. While we have yet to see a single official response to our submitted entry, we are aware that a number of other teams have received assistance and extensions of their incomplete entries. We do not understand this, and believe that this inaction casts a significant cloud on competitive sailing around the world and the advancement of grass roots support of our the sport that we are so passionate about.

SAYC's nearly 1000 members come from across the globe. We are modest sailors and experienced professionals. We are Optimist families and 18-foot skiffies. We are the sailing industry and the most conservative of cruisers. We are people just learning to sail, and circumnavigators. Our fans and supporters include the 20,000 members of the online sailing community, as well as many of the one million monthly readers of Sailing Anarchy, the website that led to the founding of SAYC.

We hereby petition ACM, SNG, and Alinghi on the following points:

1.We request that ACM, SNG and Alinghi commit to open and fair discussions with SAYC on its inclusion in the 33rd America's Cup and associated events just as ACM, SNG, and Alinghi have done with other challengers.

2.If ACM, SNG, and Alinghi stand by their rejection of SAYC's bond fide entry, we request that SAYC be immediately provided with a formal rejection of SAYC's bona fide entry, including the specific reasons for the rejection, as well as the terms of the extensions and agreements furnished to other prospective challengers for the 33rd America's Cup.

3.We request that ACM, SNG, and Alinghi respect the traditions of The America's Cup Deed of Gift and the "Basic Principle" of sailing by conducting a fair and transparent process to all challengers so that the America's Cup and competitive sailing can be regarded as a fair sport that embraces people from all walks of life.