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 San Francisco hosted the event last year, when holders Team
Oracle USA produced a remarkable comeback from 8-1 down to retain
the world's oldest sporting trophy in a winner-takes-all final 17th
race against Team New Zealand.
"Although it is time for the America's Cup to move on for the next
edition in 2017, San Francisco will always be a chapter in the
America's Cup story," a statement read on the regatta website
(www.america's cup.com).
"The America's Cup community would like to take this opportunity to
thank San Francisco for providing such an iconic backdrop to some of
the best racing in Americas Cup history last summer."
The statement followed a report in the San Francisco Chronicle
newspaper that the city would not be considered to host the event in
2017.
 Team Oracle chief executive Russell Coutts had written to San
Francisco Mayor Ed Lee informing him of the decision, the newspaper
reported.
"Given the tight timeline and demands from prospective teams to
confirm the final venue, it has been necessary to continue reducing
the shortlist of candidate cities," Coutts wrote.
"We have therefore taken the difficult decision to no longer
consider San Francisco as a possible candidate to host AC35."
Oracle and the challengers' of record, Australia's Hamilton Island
Yacht Club, issued the new protocols for the 2017 event last week.
Among the new protocols, the event will be sailed with a similar but
smaller version of the 72-foot (21.94-metre), wing-sail catamarans
used in 2013.
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The new 62-foot boats, called AC62s, will be crewed by eight people,
three fewer than last year.
Nationality rules have also been introduced with at least two of the
eight crew members having to be nationals of the country of the
yacht club represented.
Oracle's Olympic gold medallist tactician Ben Ainslie, who was seen
as pivotal in helping the holders dig themselves out of a hole, has
since left the syndicate and launched his own British challenge on
Tuesday.
Team New Zealand, who are partially government funded, are still
evaluating whether or not to enter the next event after expressing
reservations about the lack of clarity of a venue as they seek
global sponsorship.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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