Venue chosen...Ras al-Khaimah ?!

   I almost daren't post this as "news", but here it is to ponder...

33rd America’s Cup venue? Which venue? … By Sébastien Destremau

Alinghi and Société Nautique de Geneve are due to announce the venue of the 33rd America's Cup on August the sixth and there could be some fun and games in store for us all!

According to Stuart Alexander from The Independent, UK the Defender will announce a little-known city in the United Arab Emirates as the venue.  Ras al-Khaimah, has a total population of about 300,000 people and has a land area of about 1,700 km2.

To many, such announcement will be rather disappointing, as Alinghi has the perfect opportunity to push their advantage to the maximum by going just a little further east. Ras al-Khaimah is the closest port to Bandar Abbas in Iran.

Iran! A country where an American boat would face extreme difficulty in gaining entry and where the wind conditions are perfectly suited to the Swiss monster!

What are the risks of this choice for the Swiss defender?

BMW Oracle will most certainly drag the issue back into court if Valencia, Spain or another place in the southern hemisphere are not announced on the 6th. Given that these two teams spent 18 months arguing in court the possible interpretations of the word “having”, the present interpretation would most definitely need clarity and an audience from the NY court.

As legal decisions are based on written documents only, the court has two choices : 

·         Accept any venue chosen by the Defender even if it is a logistical nightmare for the Challenger.

·         Send Alinghi back to the drawing board and select Valencia or a southern hemisphere location.

The latter will take the court and Alinghi at least several weeks and therefore give the Defender some valuable time to finalize a new venue hastily.

A win-win situation for the Swiss defender as the bottom line for BMW Oracle will then be :

·         Swallow the bitter pill of having to go into a hostile region to sail a hostile DOG match

·         Wait several more weeks to know a venue most probably in the Southern hemisphere.

So now let’s all wait with bated breath to see what Alinghi has in store for us on the 6th of August !

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MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Venue chosen...Ras al-Khaimah ?! Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:09pm
	I almost daren't post this as "news", but here it is to ponder... 33rd America’s Cup venue? Which venue? … By Sébastien Destremau Alinghi and Société Nautique de Geneve are due to announce the venue of the 33rd America's Cup on August the sixth and there could be some fun and games in store for us all! According to Stuart Alexander from The Independent, UK the Defender will announce a little-known city in the United Arab Emirates as the venue. Ras al-Khaimah, has a total population of about 300,000 people and has a land area of about 1,700 km2. To many, such announcement will be rather disappointing, as Alinghi has the perfect opportunity to push their advantage to the maximum by going just a little further east. Ras al-Khaimah is the closest port to Bandar Abbas in Iran. Iran! A country where an American boat would face extreme difficulty in gaining entry and where the wind conditions are perfectly suited to the Swiss monster! What are the risks of this choice for the Swiss defender? BMW Oracle will most certainly drag the issue back into court if Valencia, Spain or another place in the southern hemisphere are not announced on the 6th. Given that these two teams spent 18 months arguing in court the possible interpretations of the word “having”, the present interpretation would most definitely need clarity and an audience from the NY court. As legal decisions are based on written documents only, the court has two choices : · Accept any venue chosen by the Defender even if it is a logistical nightmare for the Challenger. · Send Alinghi back to the drawing board and select Valencia or a southern hemisphere location. The latter will take the court and Alinghi at least several weeks and therefore give the Defender some valuable time to finalize a new venue hastily. A win-win situation for the Swiss defender as the bottom line for BMW Oracle will then be : · Swallow the bitter pill of having to go into a hostile region to sail a hostile DOG match · Wait several more weeks to know a venue most probably in the Southern hemisphere. So now let’s all wait with bated breath to see what Alinghi has in store for us on the 6th of August !

Laser 173312 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 416	Post Options Post Reply Quote Laser 173312 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 09 at 1:45pm
	There is also a rumour that the UAE will not allow Larry Ellison entry because he is of Jewish extraction. I would hate to think the Ernesto could stoop that low. But just in case here's a picture I took in 2003. It's never going to be held on Lake Geneva.

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 9:13am
	Just had a similar press release from an official source, but I am confused as to why the same words are not on Alinghi's own web site yet.....hmmmm....

Phil eltringham Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105	Post Options Post Reply Quote Phil eltringham Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 11:05am
	Just seen this on SA my favouirre bit has to be the list of 'international companies in the UAE' bottom of the list:... BMW and ORACLE - lmao - they don't miss a trick.
	FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen

Guest Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 21 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guest Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 3:24pm
	Do we care any more ... they are really screwing up this event ...

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 3:30pm
	Is it too obvious to make the defenders host it at their home club?

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 3:57pm
	Yes. The Deed of Gift requires it to be sailed on the sea.
	-_ Al

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 3:58pm
	Back to the courtroom they go. And yes, do we even care?!

Laser 173312 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 416	Post Options Post Reply Quote Laser 173312 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 9:19am
	I care as well. I've been to the last 2 cups and they were great. Not interested in going to the UAE as it's too close to Iran and there'll be no drink.

tack'ho Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote tack'ho Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 6:24pm
	Errrrr......I've always found the Emirates perfectly safe, not my favorite place in the world but not dangerous. As for too near Iran eh! You may be suprised just how close you get to Iran whenever you fly to the far east. What do think is going to happen, the Republican Guard Navy will steam across the Straits of Hormuz and board BMW Oracle in another Middle Eastern Countries territorial waters and drag the infidels back to Tehran?
	I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e!