Keep up the good work, Ernesto!

Work in the trenches by Brad Butterworth (NZL and Alinghi) and Russell Coutts (NZL and BMW Oracle) appears to be moving America's Cup 33 forward.

Just announced by Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) and Team Alinghi, with the "agreement" of Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV), are subtle changes in the 33rd Protocol that (i) limit the powers of America's Cup Management (ACM) to act in an arbitrary and capricious way, (ii) redefine aspects of the protocol, yet curiously (iii) protect the power of the Alinghi-appointed Arbitration Panel (ACAP).

The fact is, there is a lot vested in the honor, integrity and independence of the three panel members, a Swiss, a Kiwi, and a Spaniard. All of whom were appointed by Alinghi, and none by the challengers.

Nevertheless, Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), Prince of Alinghi, has been quoted and said, in effect, we've taken a step towards you, Larry (Ellison, USA). We want you in the Cup. Drop your lawsuit and become a full-fledged member of the challenger community. You can see we're involving challengers, and we're softening the protocol.

Which is great.

But Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) hasn't yet weighed in. And there's still the remaining legal issue pending in the New York Supreme Court over CNEV's legitimacy as a challenger. And issues are still simmering over the independence of the challenger event, formally known as the Louis Vuitton Cup, which all current challengers are cheerfully ignoring in the hope that GGYC will resolve it.

Today's news, however, is a step in the right direction.

Certainly, Ernesto wants Larry and Russell in the game.

No wonder.

Any American team, and particularly this one, commands the attention of the largest media market on the planet and millions of dollars in potential revenues for the Cup. Not just from the United States, either, but globally. After all, Russell is a uber-Kiwi. And Oracle and BMW are global brands.

If it's America's Cup, America has to be there.

That's what most saltwater Americans believe. And if asked, most regular Americans, as well.

But be assured, no American wants any American team hog-tied by rules that are draconian in their intent, and absurd in their application.

Ernesto seems to be rethinking what he originally created. God bless him.