Take a Look at the America’s Cup Venue at RAK

The America’s Cup venue at Al Hamra, Ras al Khaimah, UAE, is to be purpose-built for the international competition.

Many are wondering whether it will be ready for hosting the historic regatta in February 2010.

Astrid van der Knaap took this 2 minute video of the existing facilities—the Al Hamra Marina and Club House, plus a view frames of the Persian Gulf.



Source
Astrid van der Knaap, America’s Cup 2010 in Ras al Khaimah, Al Hamra Marina & Yacht Club, YouTube, 14 August 2009.

On Related Sites
A Hot Spot of Arabia in Barcelona, Experiencing the Emirates, 31 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: Al Hamra Marina.

For UAE’s America’s Cup Venue Swing Past Camel Track Near Airport

A recent article on the America’s Cup venue in the UAE commences this way:

“No one will mistake this for Valencia.”

“To reach the site picked for the next America's Cup, swing past the camel racetrack near the airport. Then pass by South Asian groceries and dusty rows of villas under construction. Finally, turn toward a stretch of the Persian Gulf where the ruling sheiks are building an island shaped a bit like a plant inspired by Dr. Seuss.”

The Associate Press story looks at the new America’s Cup venue in the UAE, the reactions from the locals, issues of security, legal challenges, the views on the water and the lagoon that is still to be created.

Link
America’s Cup Host Seeks to Calm Jitters, 3 News, 28 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: Alinghi tuning up.

Harrison Ford Adds to the America’s Cup Drama

High Drama
There has been much drama since Alinghi announced Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates as the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup but now, actor Harrison Ford has been harnessed by BMW Oracle to bestow upon them the Indiana Jones spirit.

Thus Far
Alinghi announced the sailing venue on the historic ‘Pirate’s Coast’, a fitting venue for two modern day pirates wanting to stretch the other upon the RAK.

Larry Ellison went on the counter attack, questioning Alinghi’s lack of consultation and the safety of sailing within a few miles of Iran. Legal options were left on the table and then BMW Oracle hired a hotshot lawyer to ensure all is done according to the Deed of Gift.

News has also come out this week about the billionaire’s $84.5 million pay packet to keep him going through the year of 2009.

The drama has also been unfolding on the Italian stage of Genoa, where BMW has employed a spy boat to get intelligence on Alinghi’s catamaran. Unfortunately the driver of the boat was so intent on getting up close for the photographer that she failed to see a fisherman and almost filleted him and his boat.

BMW Oracle Razzamatazz
The special occasion was a time for signing posters, drinking champagne and introducing the sailors and support crew, however, primarily the trimaran took centre stage.

It was presented in grandiose terms—a 185 foot high mast as high as a 19-story building and with an area the size of two basketball courts.

The tri is capable of sailing at never-before attained speeds of 50 knots and the experience of being on board at full tilt, according to helmsman, James Spithall, is “an adrenalin rush.”

New Zealander, Russell Coutts said, “this boat was built to be pushed and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

Another spokesperson said that this campaign will be a testing one—“testing of the limits of technology, our ability as sailors, the designers and that of the builders.”

Harrison Ford in the Act
Why was the veteran actor, Harrison Ford, associated with the campaign launch of the challenger when he admitted to the crowd that he knew little or nothing about sailing or the America’s Cup (obviously this apology was unscripted)?

After expressing his admiration and regard for “one of the premier sailing teams in the world if not the premier sailing team in the world,” he said, “My regard for you is high.” Not entirely an unequivocal endorsement of the team’s ranking and chances.

The American flags were raised high and the water was sprayed on the trimaran in what appeared to be a celebratory baptism (by sprinkling rather than total immersion).

Ford said, “I’m here for a wild ride” referring to the invitation to go out on the trimaran after the speeches were over and the champagne was drained.

High Drama
While Ford’s star power has waned in recent years the BMW Oracle team wanted to attract something of the actor’s enjoyment of high action and invincibility.

Harrison Ford is also known to push the limits off the stage, as a pilot of planes and helicopters and one who has been in several accidents and rescue missions.

The Next Act in the Cup
How will the America’s Cup play out in this next act having imbibed some of the Harrison Ford spirit?

Will it be a case of Gunsmoke at RAK, Star Wars on the Persian Gulf, Indiana Jones washes up on the Iranian border and will BMW Oracle be the Fugitive?

With such a dramatic performance at San Diego one would think BMW Oracle is starting to think about sailing on the water rather than battling in the courts.

Links
BMW Oracle Racing Introduces US America’s Cup Team, Port of San Diego, 11 August 2009.

America’s Cup Fever Returns to San Diego, AP-The Log, 21 August 2009.

BMW Oracle Racing Ceremony Highlights, YouTube, 11 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: Glimpses of the BMW Oracle bash in San Diego.

America’s Cup Makes History Today

22 August
‘Today in History’ notes this anniversary:

“1851 - The Hundred Guinea Cup, a silver trophy, was presented by the Royal Yacht Squadron to the U.S. schooner America, the winner of an international race around the Isle of Wight.”

“The trophy was eventually turned over to the New York Yacht Club and is now known as the America’s Cup.”

More History in Middle East
The America’s Cup is soon to be adding another chapter to its grand history with the competition being fought out for the first time in the Middle East in February 2010.

Link
22 August, This Day in History.

On Related Sites
Ramadan 2009 Prayer Timings for UAE, Experiencing the Emirates, 21 August 2009.

Fujairah in Focus, 21 August 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: The ‘Auld Mug’.

BMW Oracle Team Spying on Alinghi Catamaran in Italy

Spy Boat
The Italian News Agency ANSA, reports that a boat (pictured) has been commissioned by BMW Oracle to spy on the sea trials of Alinghi’s catamaran as it prepares for the America’s Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Their job is to gather intelligence that could inform the American team as it prepares their trimaran.

Too Close for Comfort
Zerogradinord also reports that the spy boat was involved this week in an accident with an Italian fisherman. In their quest to get their pictures and information the spy boat rammed the fisherman’s craft as he was 600 metres out from the Genoa coast in Italy.

The female driver of the spy boat kept her course despite horn signals and ran into the long, stout fishing line (boulter) while the fisherman had to swiftly get out of the way to avoid a major collision.

Another eventful chapter in the America’s Cup drama.

Links for the full story
BMW Oracle Spying RIB Nearly Hits Fisherman in Genoa, Valencia Sailing, 19 August 2009.
America’s Cup, Nuovi Guai Per Le Spie di BMW Oracle Racing, Zerogradinord, 19 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: BMW Oracle’s spy boat in Genoa.

Will the Cat Have the Advantage over the Trimaran at the America’s Cup?

The specifications for the boats have been established but will Alinghi’s catamaran have an advantage over the tri-hulled BMW Oracle?

Sailing World has an interview on this question with multihull designer and sailor, Pete Melvin. He has been contracted to assist BMW Oracle racing with its challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup in the United Arab Emirates in February 2010.

The podcast looks at issues of weight and windage and the way teams must get their boats structurally strong without adding too much of a burden through the water.

Is there more weight in a trimaran?

Below the Waterline
This interview gets technical with its discussion of truss structures, power hydraulics and geometrical challenges.

But then there is the issue of how these designs will handle the conditions on the Persian Gulf. How fast will the winds blow off Ras al Khaimah? How much pitching in rough seas should the teams expect and which craft will handle the roughness best?

Most Innovative Boat
Melvin is asked which of the teams has the most innovative design and he hints that there is quite some slack in the rules for new measures to be added to optimize the speed of the boats.

Your View
If you were racing in the UAE America’s Cup, would you rather be aboard the cat or the tri?

Listen to the podcast and see whether this changes your views.

Link
2009 Podcast Series: Interview with Pete Melvin, Sailing World, 10 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: Pete Melvin.

Educating Americans—the Greatest Benefit of Holding America’s Cup in UAE

RAK Rebuttal
Reuters has reported (17 August 2009) a rebuttal to Larry Ellison’s claim that the UAE site near to Iran proposed by Alinghi posed a safety risk.

Organizer’s Word
Khater Massaad, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA), said:

“Today there is no state of war in Iran and this is a peaceful place so there is no problem at all. Why do we suddenly have to raise the concern of safety?”

Let the People Speak
“There are over four million foreigners living in this country. Nobody should have any concerns because Ras al-Khaimah is part of the UAE, which is one of the safest countries in the world.”

Getting On With the Job
Massaad said preparations for yachting's most prestigious race were on track with dredging work on an artificial island to help create a lagoon underway.

Why Bring Up Safety Now?
It is taking Emiratis by surprise to be defending their safety status and questions from Ellison and his ilk can appear to be attempts to sabotage the UAE location.

But Ellison is American and any mention of the ‘Middle East’ to most Americans raises warning bells about safety. For decades, Americans have been conditioned by their politicians and their media networks to think that all of the Middle East is dangerous.

Ongoing Education
It has often been said that America’s involvement in wars has provided the greatest contribution to increasing the knowledge of American citizens about international affairs.

Perhaps educating Americans about the safety of most of the Middle East and about the positive contributions of Islam will be one of the greatest spinoffs from holding the America’s Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Link
Sailing-No Iran Risk to UAE America’s Cup Venue Say Organisers, Reuters, 17 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: Glimpses of the America’s Cup and the Emirates.

Putting Culture into 33rd America’s Cup by Racing in Arab Dhows

Cultural Sterility

There is a cultural sterility about the 33rd racing of the America’s Cup which could well be overcome if Alinghi and BMW Oracle fought for the ‘Auld Mug’ in traditional Arab dhows on the Persian Gulf.

According to the Deed of Gift, the America’s Cup was “to promote friendly competition among nations” but the modern day legal battles have put paid to ‘friendly competition’ and the national makeup of the teams has eroded much of the cultural and national expression.

Have you ever seen such a cultural hotchpotch? The 33rd America’s Cup will see the Swiss boat Alinghi with its Swiss President, Ernesto Bertarelli and leader of the campaign, Brad Butterworth, a Kiwi from Te Awamutu, New Zealand.

The challenger will be BMW Oracle headed up by American Oracle Corporation Founder Larry Ellison with another New Zealander leading the campaign, Russell Coutts from Wellington and Australian, James Spithall, at the helm.

Artificial Venue
To add to the cultural artificiality of the 33rd America’s Cup, the competition will take place from a man-made venue, a new 22 hectare purpose built island that is still to emerge from the Al Hamra Village lagoon out from Ras al Khaimah.

How much of a Middle Eastern, Emirati flavour will the 33rd America’s Cup possess or will RAK simply be host without having much input into the shaping of the overall event?

Traditional Arab Craft
What would inject some local culture into the competition would be if the two teams were to fight it out in dhows (Arabic داو), the traditional Arab sailing vessels with their characteristic lateen (triangular) sails. These were the boats that have been used for centuries to carry spices and fish around the Gulf and south to Africa. They are still used for trade and tourism but some sleeker models are raced at the sailing clubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The dhow comes in different sizes and sail settings so Alinghi and BMW Oracle would have some latitude to develop their own style and technology.

Arab Regattas
It is unlikely, especially at this late hour, for the defender and challenger to make a change to their boating designs for the sake of culture.

It is hoped that preceding the potentially short, best of three America’s Cup competition, there could be some dhow racing to bring some Arab flavor and maybe the racing of abras, those much loved ferries that zig-zag passengers across the Dubai Creek.

How else might the local culture, in this first Middle Eastern America’s Cup, find expression in the 2010 competition?

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: The traditional dhow.

Take a Look at BMW/Oracle Racing BOR90 in San Diego This Week

BMW Oracle on the Water
At the BMW Oracle media event on 10 August 2009 the trimaran was put through its paces.

A cameraman was on board the chase boat taking this footage.

He said, “This is the best I was able to get. Things got real bumpy as the chase boat hit the throttle in order to keep up.

Assessing Its Performance
Do you think this trimaran has the speed to outdo the Alinghi catamaran when they do battle on the Persian Gulf next February 2010 out from the new UAE base?



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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: BMW Oracle or also known as BOR90 or USA.

RAK Hotel in Hot Water over Alleged Photo Theft

The Cove Rotana Resort at Ras al Khaimah is bound to be fully booked come the America’s Cup in February 2010 but it is currently getting bad press for allegedly using a picture of a beach in Dorset, England to show off its beach offerings in the UAE.

The coastline and distinctive stone arch of Durdle Door in Dorset has been used on the RAK hotel’s web site and this has been noticed by a British expat searching for a weekend break.

A Rotana Hotel spokesperson said the web site was designed by an independent marketing company and was not their official website. They were taking steps to rectify the matter.

‘Any press is good press?’ This story will undoubtedly bring hits to the Cove’s website and bookings, even by the Brits.

Stop Press

Rotana Denies Image Use, AMEInfo, 16 August 2009.

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Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Ask him for details about advertizing and links on his sites.

Image: A look at the website of The Cove and a photo of Dorset’s Durdle Door.