BMW Oracle challenges new America’s Cup venue

In early August Reality Sense commented on the controversial choice of venue for the 2010 America’s Cup. Ras al-Khaimah is well known to prescient property developers as one of Dubai’s likely successors, but as the location of one of the major events in the international sailing calendar it was bound to ruffle a few feathers.

Now the already bitterly litigious nature of next year’s America’s Cup meeting between Team Alinghi and BMW Oracle appears to have been reignited by the latter team’s decision to ask a New York court to reject RAK in favour of Valencia.

BMW Oracle’s owner, Larry Ellison, visited RAK recently and declared himself dissatisfied with its ability to host the America’s Cup effectively and safely. His main concerns are based on the proposed area for the race being within 17 miles of islands occupied by Iran. He also stated that the Emirate, “fails on every key measure necessary for a successful America’s Cup”.

BMW Oracle Racing captain and chief officer, Russell Coutts declined to pull any punches either: “The choice of Ras al-Khaimah underscores Société Nautique de Genève’s [SNG] abject failure in its responsibilities as trustee of the America’s Cup,” adding, “it seems that the defender is prepared to go to any lengths to make this America’s Cup a travesty.”

Team Alinghi wasted no time in hitting back. Captain, Brad Butterworth, refuted all claims made by BMW Oracle: “BMW Oracle’s latest lawsuit is further proof of their unsportsmanlike behaviour. We will only return to the legal process to show that it is sporting character and sailing strategy that wins races, not litigation. As trustee of the America’s Cup, we are convinced that Ras al-Khaimah is the perfect and legitimate venue.”

Ellison is requesting that Valencia, with its record of hosting a successful America’s Cup in 2007, be named as the 2010 venue.

As valencianos cross their fingers and hope that this prestigious event will return to their city next year, it looks as though the bad-tempered dispute will run and run.

New post on at Friday, 9 October, 2009, 6:58 am and is archived in International News, Lifestyle, People, Sport. Subscribe to answers with RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or make a trackback from your web.