Whatever shine ‘the old mug’ possessed has almost evaporated with news that another legal challenge will see Alinghi and BMW Oracle doing further battle in the courts.According to Associated Press (2 September 2009):
“America's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing has gone back to a New York court in an attempt to stop what it calls the unfair manipulation of the rules by defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland.”
“The San Francisco-based syndicate is asking the Supreme Court of the State of New York to keep the Swiss from issuing rules that would disqualify the American trimaran. It is also asking a judge to make public a secret agreement the Swiss signed with the International Sailing Federation.”
“It's the latest action in a bitter, convoluted legal spat that's lasted more than two years. The rivals are scheduled for a best-of-three showdown in massive multihulls in February in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, for the oldest trophy in international sports.”
This 2010 competition in the UAE (if it ever gets to this venue) will be known more for the legal battles that preceded the regatta than for the historic nature of the Middle Eastern venue.
The constant wrangling tarnishes the tradition of the race and every court appearance results in a loss of spectators and sponsors.
The expensive legal cases with legal high flyers doing battle underscores that this has become a sport for rich men with big egos.
On Related Sites
1.6 Million Iftar Meals Served During Ramadan in UAE, Experiencing the Emirates, 2 September 2009.
Fujairah Corniche Coming Alive during Ramadan, Fujairah in Focus, 1 September 2009.
Dr Geoff Pound
Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.
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Image: This is what spectators want to see.
