Uae To Host 2010 America’s Cup
The United Arab Emirates has been named as the host venue for the 33rd America’s Cup which starts on 8th February, 2010.
Two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland picked Ras al-Khaimah as the port for a one-off duel against US challengers Oracle.
The move draws a line under a legal dispute following Alinghi’s victory in Valencia, Spain in July 2007.
Oracle – from the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) in San Francisco – and Alinghi, who sail under the colours of Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), had to contest a legal wrangle after the race in 2007 over Spanish syndicate Desafio Espanol’s status as challenger.
According to the rules of the Cup, the defending champion and the challenger of record negotiate where and when the cup will be held, and the standards for the boats that will be permitted to sail in the race.
But in April this year, the US courts settled the matter and installed Oracle as the legitimate challenger.
As the defender, Alinghi had the choice of venue and decided to switch from Valencia, partly because of the time of the year with the prospect of racing in the winter and the heavy seas of the Mediterranean.
Other locations in the Middle East and in South America are understood to have been considered.
