Alinghi backs RAK’s credentials to host America’s Cup

Alinghi backs RAK’s credentials to host America’s Cup

Alinghi, the America’s Cup defender, renewed its support for Ras al-Khaimah as the venue for the...

October 17, 2009 6:57 by kippreport

Alinghi, the America’s Cup defender, renewed its support for Ras al-Khaimah as the venue for the prestigious yacht race, and dismissed reports by rival Oracle that the emirate is an unsafe and unfit location, reported Maktoob Business on Saturday.

Alinghi team head Ernesto Bertarelli said their rival’s claims read like a “trailer of a Hollywood movie.”

“This is a fantastic venue for the America’s Cup,” insisted Bertarelli, the Swiss biotech billionaire.

“It is work in progress, but what has been achieved so far is second to none. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be here and I can’t wait to get sailing.”

He added: “Some of the things I see from BMW Oracle read like the trailer of a Hollywood movie, do they really think we and the rest of the world ignore the fact that 40 percent of the world oil traffic goes through the Strait of Hormuz and as many goods are coming in to provide for what is the fastest growing region in the world over the last 10 years?”

“If the Strait or this area had any security issues, we would know about it. So I say: Come on BMW Oracle, Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and Tom Ehman; let’s get real and let’s get sailing. Stop inventing things for the sake of it.”