According to Alinghi Team Executive Director Michel Bonnefous, two threatening letters were sent to Alinghi on December 16 and 17.

Bonnefous said that the letters were sent from what purported to be a group of patriotic activists and had spelled out a clear intention to target the children and family of sailors. The letters identified team members who have young children.

Bonnefous said that the letters warned that the group would damage team members’ property and inflict violence on their families. They said they had tracked the movements of children and other family members, and gave personal details about one crewmember.

The specific contents of the letters weren’t disclosed due to the investigation, but Jeoff Barraclough, Communications Manager for the America’s Cup Division of the New Zealand Police, said that the police rate the issue very seriously.

“This isn’t a nasty letter,” said Barraclough. “This is a threat, and it’s a threat to harm. So it’s being treated extraordinarily seriously.”

When asked if the threats bear special weight since children were involved, Barraclough said: “On a motive scale it probably does. But it’s a threat to harm a human being. That bears significant weight as it is.”

Barraclough said that such threats are punishable by jail time. The sentence would depend on the severity of the letter.

A spokesman for Team New Zealand, Murray Taylor, wouldn’t immediately comment on the threats, other than to say it was the first he’d heard of them.

Attempts to reach the Honourable Trevor Mallard, Minister for Sport and the America’s Cup were unsuccessful.

Barraclough said that threats to harm are a rarity in New Zealand. And although he wouldn’t speculate, he said that the nature of the letters lend themselves to originating from a New Zealander or a group of New Zealanders.

“They’re targeting Kiwis,” said Barraclough. “The letters are general in their threats, but specific names are mentioned.”

While the investigation has been ongoing for more than two weeks, it only became public today due to Alinghi’s decision to release the information.

Barraclough wouldn’t comment on whether the police advised for or against the decision.

Since the start of the Louis Vuttion Cup on October 1, some local groups have been vocal in their support of Team New Zealand.

One nationalistic group has chided former Team New Zealand sailors who departed for foreign teams. Another campaign claims loyalty to Team New Zealand, the two-time defending America’s Cup champions.

Bonnefous said neither group was suspected in the investigation.

Bonnefous said that he’s heard of Alinghi Team members from New Zealand having trouble getting service, or being denied service altogether, in some local restaurants. Also, some team members' children of New Zealand origin have reportedly been bullied at school.

“It is true that at some restaurants people have made us feel not welcomed,” Bonnefous said. “But we have lived in New Zealand for one year and we have been well received. Some people are entitled to support Team New Zealand and to joke a little bit with Alinghi. That’s not an issue. It’s just when it goes to another step.”

Barraclough said that ministers of the New Zealand government have been informed of the threats and the investigation. He also said that he’d expect a public reaction.

“The thing with New Zealanders, in general, is it’s a sporting nation,” Barraclough said. “Threats along these lines are a rarity. The majority of New Zealanders would be quite disgusted with the content and indeed the threat itself.”

Alinghi Team will meet Oracle BMW Racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, scheduled to begin Jan. 11. Bonnefous said that the investigation wouldn’t distract them from preparing for the Match.

Barraclough said that the America’s Cup Division of the New Zealand Police was a special division formed for the event. There are 107 policemen in the division that is devoted to issues surrounding the Americas’ Cup.

Source: Sean McNeill