Oracle Team USA officials remained tight-lipped yesterday over the “arrest” of the racing syndicate’s AC45 catamaran.

However, the America’s Cup holders are reportedly optimistic that their multihull yacht will be allowed to begin its delayed journey to Bermuda soon.

It is understood that Oracle have legal options that would allow their AC45 to continue its journey to the team’s Bermuda base at the Royal Naval Dockyard while the ongoing dispute with Spooner plays itself out before the court.

The Development Applications Board recently approved the proposed base that will take up about 7.2 acres on the northern side of the South Basin dock.

Included on the site will be four new buildings to house boats and sails, two tents, seven containers, a 160-foot crane, an ancillary building to house fibre-optic infrastructure, and two floating docks. An existing structure on the property will be adapted into shower and toilet facilities.

Oracle Team USA officias plan to move into their Bermuda headquarters by May.

The AC45 believed to be a prototype of the larger AC62, which Oracle will defend their title in when Bermuda hosts the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, was seized by Federal marshals in San Francisco on Monday.

Marshals went to the team’s base at Pier 80 and determined that the modified 45-foot catamaran and its various components and wing sail were in three shipping containers the team was preparing to send to Bermuda.

Marshals Service spokesman Frank Conroy said the containers were stickered and locked.

Oracle’s AC45 was seized in response to a lien filed by sailor Joe Spooner, whose contract with the American racing syndicate was terminated in January.

The warrant to seize the boat was issued late last Friday by clerk Richard Wieking of the US District Court in San Francisco.

Spooner, who was a grinder with Oracle during its America’s Cup victories in 2010 and 2013, is seeking at least $725,000 in unpaid wages and damages for alleged wrongful termination of his contract.

According to American Maritime law, a vessel can be held if a sailor is owed wages.

In admiralty law terms, the boat was arrested.