Sailing News

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