Ras al-Khaimah official says Persian Gulf port is safe for America’s Cup showdown

RAK official files brief in America’s Cup spat

An adviser to the sheik of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, filed a brief in a New York court Tuesday countering claims by U.S. challenger BMW Oracle Racing that the Persian Gulf port is not a safe venue for the America’s Cup because of its proximity to Iran.

Khater Massaad, the CEO of the Ras al-Khaimah Investment Authority, wrote that RAK is safe and has the infrastructure to host powerhouse sailing teams BMW Oracle Racing and defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland and their massive multihulled boats.

The friend of the court brief filed with the New York State Supreme Court is in response to BMW Oracle Racing’s motion asking a judge to reject RAK as the port for the best-of-3 showdown beginning Feb. 8 for the oldest trophy in international sports.

“If we perceived even the slightest threat to the security and success of the 33rd America’s Cup, we would not have pursued this opportunity, as RAK stands to lose the most were there to be any disruption to the event,” Massaad wrote in the brief.

Massaad is an adviser to H.H. Sheik Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi. Alinghi, owned by Swiss biotech tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli, announced RAK as the venue on Aug. 5.

In its motion filed Oct. 2, BMW Oracle Racing cited “grave safety concerns” for its U.S.-based crew that would be sailing a massive trimaran named USA within miles of Iran. BMW Oracle Racing is owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp.

Justice Shirley Kornreich has set a hearing for Oct. 27 on the venue issue and ongoing rules squabbles between the bitter rivals. A convoluted, two-year court fight has led to the rare one-on-one showdown. BMW Oracle Racing wants the races moved to Valencia, Spain, unless the teams mutually consent to another port.

Massaad said RAK officials are “surprised and offended” by BMW Oracle Racing’s “attacks,” and that the Americans are trying to change venues to a site with conditions that better suit their 90-foot trimaran.

The brief said the UAE has hosted high-profile events such as the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race; the Dubai World Golf Championship featuring Tiger Woods; and the World Tennis Championship featuring Roger Federer.

“We have gained vast security experience,” Massaad wrote.

He also noted that Oracle’s Middle East headquarters is located within a 45-minute drive of the America’s Cup venue, and that BMW Oracle Racing is scheduled to compete in the Dubai RC44 Gold Cup next month, a sailing class founded by Russell Coutts, a three-time America’s Cup winner who is BMW Oracle Racing’s CEO and skipper.

Massaad wrote the proposed course will be off RAK’s western coast, not off the northern coast closer to the Strait of Hormuz, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Iran.

Massaad said RAK has spent more than $120 million on infrastructure, much of it between the Aug. 5 venue announcement and BMW Oracle Racing’s court filing.

Last week, BMW Oracle Racing said it had invited Massaad to California to meet with syndicate officials, including Ellison, but that he canceled the trip without explanation.

Alinghi’s 90-foot catamaran, Alinghi 5, has been in RAK for about two weeks. BMW Oracle Racing has been testing its space age-looking trimaran in San Diego since last fall. The boat is being modified and will soon be back on the water.