Oracle Team USA’s involvement in this month’s Flying Phantom Series finale now hangs in the balance.

Oracle were among two America’s Cup teams due to appear in the regatta to be held in the Great Sound from November 29 to December 2.

However, it is now doubtful that Oracle, the defender of the America’s Cup, will go ahead with their plans to compete, meaning Artemis Racing, the Swedish challenger, could potentially be the sole America’s Cup team among the field.

“Team participation in the Phantom regatta is unlikely now,” Peter Rusch, the team spokesman, said.

“Their training schedule makes it difficult to do both Phantoms and Moth, and they are going to participate in the Moth event.”

A vision shared by Tom Slingsby and Philippe Presti, from Oracle, for Bermuda to host a regatta showcasing the high-performance catamaran, became reality when it was announced that the Flying Phantom Series finale would be held here.

The fleet racing spectacle will feature more than 15 of the one design catamarans, with boats from Europe, the United States and Canada.

The foiling multihulls will race against each other on a course specially prepared by David Campbell-James, the regatta director, and father of Land Rover BAR tactician Paul Campbell-James, who also officiated in last month’s Argo Group Gold Cup.

The Bermuda event is based on an original idea from Slingsby, Oracle Team USA’s team manager, and Presti, Oracle Team USA’s coach, who both have first-hand experience sailing Oracle’s training fleet of Flying Phantoms, which are based at the team’s headquarters in Dockyard.

As well as being heavily involved in the team’s two-boat test programme in the AC45 test boats, Slingsby and Oracle team-mates Jimmy Spithill and Kyle Langford are preparing for next month’s Moth regatta which has attracted a fleet of 60 sailors from 11 countries.

Last weekend Oracle staged a mini Moth regatta with Langford, Rome Kirby and Presti occupying the top three spots.

The Moth has gained popularity with America’s Cup sailors because it hydrofoils, similar to the catamarans used in America’s Cup racing.

More than 20 America’s Cup sailors have registered for next month’s Moth regatta, among them Nathan Outteridge, a two-time Moth world champion, and his Artemis Racing team-mate, Iain Jensen.

The regatta runs from December 5 to 11, with two races per day.