America's Cup challenger opposes UAE venue
By IBI Magazine
Just two days after the high-tech catamaran belonging to America's Cup Defender Alinghi arrived in Ras al Khaimah, UAE, venue for the next Cup, Challenger BMW Oracle has asked a New York court to change the location. BMW Oracle cited "grave safety concerns" because of the emirate's geographical proximity to Iran.
BMW Oracle, under its sponsor Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), has asked the New York Supreme Court to instead mandate Valencia, Spain, site of the last America's Cup, as the next venue. "Under the America's Cup Deed of Gift, for a match in February the Defender, Société Nautique de Geneve (Alinghi's yacht club) cannot select a Northern Hemisphere location without GGYC's mutual consent," read the statement. "GGYC has consistently reminded SNG that, without our mutual consent, any other venue they select would have to be fully compliant with the Deed of Gift. The only exception is Valencia, which the court's April 7, 2009 decision expressly permits."
BMW Oracle sent a representative to Ras al Khaimah to inspect the venue. "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." The statement said a territorial dispute between the UAE and Iran over nearby islands also adds to security concerns.
"The choice of RAK underscores SNG's abject failure in its responsibilities as Trustee of the America's Cup," said Russell Coutts, skipper and CEO of GGYC's BMW Oracle Racing team. "It seems that the Defender is prepared to go to any lengths to make this America's Cup a travesty."
Alinghi called BMW Oracle's latest motion in the ongoing lawsuit "further proof of their unsportsmanlike behaviour". A statement from Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper, said training would continue in Ras al Khaimah for the America's Cup match for the next four months.
"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," said Butterworth in the statement.
By IBI Magazine
Just two days after the high-tech catamaran belonging to America's Cup Defender Alinghi arrived in Ras al Khaimah, UAE, venue for the next Cup, Challenger BMW Oracle has asked a New York court to change the location. BMW Oracle cited "grave safety concerns" because of the emirate's geographical proximity to Iran.
BMW Oracle, under its sponsor Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), has asked the New York Supreme Court to instead mandate Valencia, Spain, site of the last America's Cup, as the next venue. "Under the America's Cup Deed of Gift, for a match in February the Defender, Société Nautique de Geneve (Alinghi's yacht club) cannot select a Northern Hemisphere location without GGYC's mutual consent," read the statement. "GGYC has consistently reminded SNG that, without our mutual consent, any other venue they select would have to be fully compliant with the Deed of Gift. The only exception is Valencia, which the court's April 7, 2009 decision expressly permits."
BMW Oracle sent a representative to Ras al Khaimah to inspect the venue. "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." The statement said a territorial dispute between the UAE and Iran over nearby islands also adds to security concerns.
"The choice of RAK underscores SNG's abject failure in its responsibilities as Trustee of the America's Cup," said Russell Coutts, skipper and CEO of GGYC's BMW Oracle Racing team. "It seems that the Defender is prepared to go to any lengths to make this America's Cup a travesty."
Alinghi called BMW Oracle's latest motion in the ongoing lawsuit "further proof of their unsportsmanlike behaviour". A statement from Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper, said training would continue in Ras al Khaimah for the America's Cup match for the next four months.
"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," said Butterworth in the statement.
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(2 October 2009)
posted by EMS @ 7:39 AM
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