Tuesday, October 27, 2009

America's Cup still seeking venue

Alinghi wins the America's Cup in 2007
Alinghi may now return to the the scene of their 2007 triumph

Plans to stage the 2010 America's Cup in the United Arab Emirates have been blocked by a court ruling in New York.

Swiss defending champions Alinghi wanted to race American challenger BMW Oracle Racing in the Persian Gulf port of Ras al-Khaimah in February.

But the Supreme Court pointed to a 19th century document prevent the event from taking place in the Northern Hemisphere between 1 November and 1 May.

Alinghi's backing yacht club, Societe Nautique de Geneve, could yet appeal.

The 33rd staging of the race - which will be a three-leg duel instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta involving several teams - could yet take place in Valencia, Spain.

Oracle were unhappy with the choice of the UAE as a venue but neither team objected in court to Valencia which is deemed acceptable, despite its Northern Hemisphere location, as it staged the most recent race in 2007.

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