The announcement by Société Nautique de Genève that the 33rd America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift challenge between Alinghi and BMW Oracle, would be held in the tiny Emirate (Kingdom) of Ras Al-Khaimah struck many as odd, and sent sailing fans and journalists to their atlases to find the obscure little venue. As Alinghi 5 lifted off today for a helicopter ride to Italy, the questions on many’s minds were still surrounding this decision: Why would the Swiss choose to locate the race in the UAE? And of all the Emirates, why Ras Al-Khaimah?
Many of the Emirates have been working hard to host and promote international sporting events ranging from golf to motorsports, and the entire region has its collective eye on promoting yachting. With little oil, Ras Al-Khaimah’s infrastructure relies on …Â Details & Pictures