The America’s Cup World Series curtain raiser scheduled to be held from June 4 to 7 in Cagliari, Italy has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed.

The cancellation is the latest fallout from Luna Rossa’s withdrawal from the 35th America’s Cup in protest against the radical revision of the class rule for the next instalment of the “Auld Mug” to be held in Bermuda in June 2017.

The World Series, featuring the wing-sail, foiling AC45 catamaran, will now begin on July 25 and 26 in Portsmouth, England, the home port of British challenger Ben Ainslie Racing.

The majority of teams voted in favour of changing the class rule for the 35th America’s Cup from the AC62 catamaran to the smaller AC48 as a cost-cutting measure at a competitor forum.

Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand both opposed the amendment.

It is the first time in America’s Cup history that the class rule has been revised in midstream and the smallest boats to be used in the event’s history.

Luna Rossa, backed by the fashion house Prada, said before the vote “it will be obliged to withdraw” if the rules were disrespected, and it was backed by Team New Zealand.

In a team statement, the Italian challenger accused the America’s Cup Event Authority of breaking the rules governing the 2017 America’s Cup.

“Team Luna Rossa indeed considers illegitimate the procedure adopted and founded on an evident abuse of process by surreptitious use of procedures to modify the protocol in order to overturn the class rule, which instead requires the unanimity of the teams entered,” the team statement read.

“This is an attempt to introduce boats that are substantially monotypes and in total contrast with the ultra-centennial tradition of the America’s Cup, not to mention a two-month extension period to introduce further modifications to the rules, decided by the majority.

“All of the above contributes to a lack of credibility and uncertain technical grounds for what should instead be the most sophisticated sailing competition in the world.

“This radical change also implies a waste of important resources already invested based on the rules that were sanctioned in June last year. This means that the claim to reduce costs reveals itself as a pure pretext aimed to annihilate research and development achievements of some teams, and to favour instead preconceived technical and sporting positions by means of changing the most important element in the competition — the boat.

“Following a careful evaluation of the serious implications of this unprecedented initiative, Team Luna Rossa confirms that it will withdraw from the 35th America’s Cup.

“Team Luna Rossa regrets the repercussions that this difficult decision will have on the members of the team, and on the sailing event planned to take place in Cagliari next June, and obviously understands the disappointment of the many fans who have supported Luna Rossa during the last four editions of the America’s Cup.”

The World Series will have further legs this year in Sweden, from August 28 to 30, and in Bermuda, from October 16 to 18.

Sir Russell Coutts, director of the America’s Cup Event Authority and chief executive officer of defender Oracle Team USA, hinted that a further World Series event may be held in Bermuda in 2016.