Sailing News » Ras al-Khaimah

SNG statement about Ras Al Khaimah & Valencia

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:07:32 +0000

SNG statement following New York court decision on the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup.

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court today upheld Justice Kornreich’s decision of 30 October 2009 that disqualified the America’s Cup Defender Société Nautique de Genève’s choice of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates as venue for the 33rd America’s Cup. The four-judge panel also upheld Kornreich’s decision to exclude rudders from the measurement of the load waterline length of the race yacht.

“Once again BMW Oracle‘s strategy to try to win the America’s Cup in court instead of on the water has been successful. For the first time in the history of the America’s Cup the Defender has been stripped of its fundamental right to select the venue. Société Nautique de Genève accepts this decision and Alinghi is looking forward to racing for the America’s Cup on the water in Valencia, Spain, in February 2010,” said Fred Meyer, SNG vice-commodore.

America’s Cup in Valencia 2010

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:03:10 +0000

The New York Court dismisses Ras al-Khaimah and confirms Valencia to host the next America’s Cup

The Supreme Court of the State of New York has upheld an earlier decision that the series should be based in the Spanish port as desired by US team Oracle.

It rejected an appeal of that judgement filed by America’s Cup holders Alinghi of Switzerland who wanted the races to be held in the United Arab Emirates.

33rd America’s Cup set for five or seven legs

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:19:19 +0000

Oracle and Alinghi have agreed that the 33rd America’s Cup set for Valencia next year will be either a five-leg or seven-leg competition instead of the the best-of-three event that has been proposed, the mayor of the Spanish port city said Friday.

An agreement in principle in this sense was reached at a meeting in the city on Thursday between representatives of the two sides, Valencia mayor Rita Barbera said.

The two sides were meeting to prepare the next edition of the sailing race in the case the New York Supreme Court cofirms next week Valencia as the location for the event as desired by Oracle of the United States.

Defending Swiss champions Alinghi want the race to take place in the port of Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates but Oracle has contested its choice in court.

Oracle, owned by American computer billionaire Larry Ellison, launched a legal challenge in 2007 that accused Alinghi, which as defending champion is charged with organising the next event, of bending the rules to give it an unfair advantage.

The New York Supreme Court ruled in April that the Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel between the two sides next February instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta with several teams involving seven legs.

Via (AFP) & Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091211/sp_wl_afp/yachtingamcup_20091211171613

New York Supreme Court orders 33rd America’s Cup to be Deed compliant

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:01:08 +0000

The New York Supreme Court today ruled that the 33rd America’s Cup, scheduled in February 2010, must take place in a venue in the Southern Hemisphere as per the strict reading of the competition’s governing document, the Deed of Gift, or in Valencia, Spain, as the only exception to that rule.

“This is a disappointing result as we were certain that Justice Cahn’s May 2008 decision allowed the Defender to chose Valencia or ‘any other location’,” said Lucien Masmejan, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) legal counsel. “Ras Al Khaimah has put enormous time and effort into this 33rd America’s Cup project. We thank them and feel sorry for this unexpected result out of the New York court”.

“We are satisfied, however, as Justice Kornreich confirmed that the Deed of Gift Match will be conducted under SNG rules as she had already ruled in a previous court order,” added Lucien Masmejan.

Alinghi begins training in Ras Al Khaimah, 33rd America’s Cup Venue

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:14:48 +0000

The Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup set sail today for the start of AC training in Emirati waters.

Photos: Guido Trombetta / Alinghi

Alinghi, the 33rd America’s Cup Defender, cast off from the America’s Cup Island of Al Hamra this morning and set sail for its first training day in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

“The conditions are ideal here for these boats,” said Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper, “exactly the building sea breeze that we hoped for which means we can sail as much as six days a week; it couldn’t be better for what we are trying to achieve.” The giant catamaran Alinghi 5 arrived in the Emirates from Europe on 30 September after a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage and since then the team has relocated, reassembled the boat and prepared it for the four-month training session ahead of the first race of the 33rd America’s Cup in February 2010.

“I would like to thank Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, his Highness Sheikh Saud, his Highness Sheikh Omar and Dr Massaad among many others. This is a fantastic venue for the America’s Cup. It is work in progress, but what has been achieved so far is second to none. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be here and I can’t wait to get sailing,” said Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi team president, at a press conference in Al Hamra Village on Saturday. “Some of the things I see from BMW Oracle read like the trailer of a Hollywood movie, do they really think we and the rest of the world ignore the fact that 40% of the world oil traffic goes through the Strait of Hormuz and as many goods are coming in to provide for what is the fastest growing region in the world over the last 10 years? If the Strait or this area had any security issues, we would know about it. So I say: Come on BMW Oracle, Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and Tom Ehman; let’s get real and let’s get sailing. Stop inventing things for the sake of it.”

Preparations for the America’s Cup continue apace, both on Al Hamra Island, home to the team bases, and within Al Hamra Village where the teams and America’s Cup visitors will be accommodated over the next few months. The infrastructure is tailor-made for the event, courtesy of Ras Al Khaimah and Dr Khater Massaad, Advisor to H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, whose support has been invaluable. “We are proud to host such a world-acclaimed sporting event and welcome Alinghi with open arms,” said Dr Massaad, “we just hope to be able to welcome BMW Oracle, the challenger, soon in order to finalise preparations at their base on Al Hamra America’s Cup Island. The government of Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE guarantee the security of both teams in the lead up and during the Cup,” he declared.

Grant Simmer, Alinghi’s design team coordinator, has been on site during the early preparations and is delighted at the speed that work has progressed: “The difference between when we arrived here and now is amazing. The support from everyone involved in Ras Al Khaimah has been incomparable and we look forward to a successful America’s Cup Match in February 2010.”

Alinghi will now settle in to a training schedule towards the America’s Cup Match.

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Oracle rejects ‘unsafe’ UAE venue for America’s Cup

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:36:06 +0000

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, host venue for the 33rd America’s Cup 2010

US team Oracle on Friday rejected the choice of Gulf emirate Ras al-Khaimah as the venue for its February duel with America’s Cup defender Alinghi, describing it as “illegitimate and unsafe” due to its proximity to Iran.

“In light of the developing situation in the Arabian Gulf region, Ras al-Khaimah is particularly unsuitable,” Oracle’s representative, the Golden Gate Yacht Club, said in a statement.

It called on the New York Supreme Court to order the race instead be held in the Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia, where the last America’s Cup, won by Alinghi, took place in 2007.

Alinghi condemned Oracle’s move as a “tactic” by its owner, American computer billionaire Larry Ellison, and vowed to press on with plans to hold the event as scheduled.

“Their complaints as to safety are not truly held by them, demonstrated by the fact that they have relocated personnel to Ras Al Khaimah, and have equipment at the venue in preparation for the match,” Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth said in a statement.

“We believe this lawsuit is yet another tactic employed by Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle to avoid racing us for the Cup on the water… Our Cup preparations and training will continue in Ras al-Khaimah.”

Alinghi, owned by Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, and Oracle have been engaged in a two-year legal battle over the next edition of yachting’s premier event.

Under a ruling by a New York court in April, the 33rd America’s Cup was scheduled to be settled in a three-leg duel starting February 8 instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta involving several teams.

In a surprise move, Alinghi, represented by the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), announced in August that Ras al-Khaimah would be the site of the race.

Representatives of Oracle inspected the proposed venue last month.

“It was clear that the RAK venue fails on every key measure necessary for a successful America?s Cup, including: lack of infrastructure, security and wind,” Oracle’s representative, the Golden Gate Yacht Club, said in a statement.

It said Alinghi’s “proposed course area is within 17 miles (27 kilometres) of islands occupied by Iran in a current territorial dispute with the United Arab Emirates of which Ras al-Khaimah is a member state,” it said.

“GGYC will not consent to SNG?s choice of an illegitimate and unsafe venue.”

It said that under America’s Cup rules the race cannot be held in the northern hemisphere without the mutual consent of the two teams.

“The only exception is Valencia, which the (New York) courts April 7, 2009 decision expressly permits,” GGYC said.

This is Valencia! (Spain)

But Butterworth countered that the New York court’s order said “the location of the match shall be in Valencia or any other location selected by SNG.”

Oracle’s New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts described the choice of Ras al-Khaimah as “another example of Alinghi abusing its role as trustee of the America’s Cup.

“We want to get this going on the water but not in a risky or unsafe situation. Ras al-Khaimah is a very remote place, it’s a half-completed real estate development,” he told AFP.

The America’s Cup was to be held in the Middle East for the first time as Ras al-Khaimah’s Investment Authority tries to develop the tiny emirate by attracting investment, tourism and major international events.

Info: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hogbuCNhZ0bytvU75TD3IBm3trHA

Alinghi arrives in Ras al Khaimah

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:31:53 +0000

The Swiss Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup docked in the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah on Wednesday morning after a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage aboard Rickmers Singapore, a cargo ship.

The 193m ship left Genoa, Italy, on 18 September with the giant catamaran, Alinghi 5, two masts, seven support vessels and approximately 20 containers on board. It travelled across the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and Gulf, across the Red and then Arabian Sea before docking in Saqr Port, Ras al Khaimah in the Arabian Gulf at 06:30 CET on Wednesday 30 September.

“We are extremely happy that the shipment, including Alinghi 5, arrived safely in Ras al Khaimah,” said Grant Simmer, design team coordinator. “All the equipment that we used in Genoa was onboard so now we can set up our base and workshops and get going. We will be doing some modifications to the yacht over the coming days and the team members are arriving and getting settled so it’s going to be a busy few weeks, we hope to be sailing again as soon as possible. We greatly appreciate the support that we are getting from the local community and from the government of Ras al Khaimah,” he added.

Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Investment Authority, added his pleasure at the team’s arrival: “We welcome the arrival of Alinghi to Ras al Khaimah for the preparation of the 33rd America’s Cup event and we also look forward to welcoming BMW Oracle.”

The Alinghi catamaran will travel to the America’s Cup Island of Al Hamra over the coming days along with its entourage and for the next four months the team will be focused on training for the Match for the America’s Cup which starts on 8 February 2010.

Other news:

Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) confirms that it has received the modern day equivalent of the Custom House Registry detailing BMW Oracle’s USA, challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup. SNG published the Measurement Procedures in August of this year. These procedures will be used by the measurers to confirm the dimensions of both the Defender and the Challenger’s yachts; checking that the dimensions of the yachts comply with the Deed of Gift and, in the case of the Challenger, with the dimensions of their Certificate of Vessel provided with their challenge. The Defender remains committed to a race for the America’s Cup on the water starting 8 February 2010 and looks forward to welcoming BMW Oracle at the venue in Ras al Khaimah.

Photos: Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

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New York Court finds Golden Gate Yacht Club’s behaviour “unsportsmanlike”

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:33:49 +0000

In her ruling relating to a hearing on 10 August, New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich highlights “…the unsportsmanlike behavior of Golden Gate that has resulted in substantially reducing SNG’s (Société Nautique de Genève) advantage as originally contemplated by the Deed of Gift.”

The 33rd America’s Cup Defender, Société Nautique de Genève, had filed an Order to Show Cause in front of Justice Kornreich who, despite such an unprecedented statement describing the actions of GGYC, considers such “actions are not contrary to law” and is left with no option but to deny the motion.
Justice Kornreich’s order also reiterates that the race shall be sailed under the rules and sailing regulations of the SNG.

SNG and its representing team Alinghi remain committed to a 33rd America’s Cup fought on the water in Ras al-Khaimah in February 2010.

Click here to read the NY Supreme Court court order

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