ASdTorrevieja Information - tourist guide: America’s Cup: 2010 one on one and not a multi-nation challenge

America’s Cup: 2010 one on one and not a multi-nation challenge
================================================================================
Keith Nicol on 23 December, 2009 12:29:00

The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy that is still competed for in
international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years.

Valencia 2008 saw the commercialisation of the event and the America’s Cup
became a truly global event with 11-teams fighting it out in a truly memorable
competition. Sadly the event has been dragged through the law courts in the USA
with the result that the challenge has gone from a multi-nation challenge series
to just one week of racing between the Swiss holders and the American
challengers.
Which brings us right up to date and with it, good news and bad news about the
America’s Cup challenge for 2010 as the Appellate Division of the New York
Supreme Court has upheld Justice Kornreich's decision that disqualified the
America's Cup Defender Société Nautique de Genève's choice of Ras Al Khaimah
in the United Arab Emirates as venue for the 33rd America's Cup.
“Once again BMW Oracle's strategy to try to win the America's Cup in court
instead of on the water has been successful. For the first time in the history
of the America's Cup the Defender has been stripped of its fundamental right to
select the venue. Société Nautique de Genève accepts this decision and
Alinghi is looking forward to racing for the America's Cup on the water in
Valencia, Spain, in February 2010,” said Fred Meyer, SNG vice-commodore.’
The good news is that from early January one shall be able to visit Valencia and
watch the teams in training awaiting a week of racing in February. The bad news
is much more profound as instead of Valencia now being the number one choice for
a fully fledged, month long challenge series between multiple nations, including
the British, Ras Al Khaimah is now more likely to be Alinghi’s choice of venue
for the 34th America’s Cup, should they defeat BMW Oracle.
Both teams are now setting up base in Valencia and the Valencian Government are
putting on a happy face saying how much the economy shall benefit by the
week’s racing in February. Sadly, there seem to be more losers than winners;
the majority of the world’s best yachtsmen, designers and enthusiasts have
been excluded from the racing, the tourist trade will only receive a small
portion of what could have been expected from a racing series and Valencia will
probably not ever feature again as an
America’s Cup port.
Keith Nicol