Dubai: The sailing world looked up in disbelief as Switzerland-based America's Cup defending champions Alinghi declared that Ras Al Khaimah will host the 33rd America's Cup to be held from February 8, 2010. It was a chance conversation between Dr Khater Masa'ad, adviser to Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and the president of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) that got things under way a few months ago.
Dr Masa'ad, a former EPFL student, took up the issue in earnest and barely two weeks later, Alinghi had identified a perfect venue for the next edition of the sport's oldest trophy.
In an interview, Dr Masa'ad talks of how RAK earned the right to stage such an important event.
Excerpts:
GULF NEWS: Considering its magnitude, how easy or difficult was it to bring an event like the America's Cup to RAK?
Dr Khater Masa'ad: Things got moving some five months back when Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi signed an agreement with the EPFL to create a university campus in Ras Al Khaimah.
One day, as I was speaking to the president of the university, he told me that the America's Cup was looking for a venue. The EPFL, incidentally, is associated with the design and manufacture of the boat for Alinghi.
He put me in contact with Alinghi's owner Ernesto Bertarelli and he immediately sent a team to visit Ras Al Khaimah. We put forward two or three proposals - one of them was on Marjan Island, the other was Al Hamra Village, which they chose eventually.
How did things fall into place?
Alinghi looked happy with the venue site. They sent a second technical team to study other aspects such as the direction of the wind and so on so that they could compile data for themselves before taking a decision.
In between, Bertarelli visited us and saw the venue for himself. The budget was very important to us. We had to gauge how much such an event would cost.
Finally, exactly a month ago, Shaikh Saud and Bertarelli signed an agreement for the America's Cup.
What is the objective in organising such a huge sailing event in RAK?
This is such a great event that it is capable of bringing in visitors to the country. It will further boost the UAE's image worldwide and benefit the tourism industry to a great extent. Our hosting the America's Cup will give foreign teams and visitors a taste of Arabian hospitality.
How important is the America's Cup to RAK?
This is a very important event and we are thrilled to have the defenders choose RAK as the venue instead of sticking to Valencia. As far as we are concerned, Shaikh Saud is very clear on what he wants for RAK.
He wants to see this place as an ultra-modern destination with wide roads, solid infrastructure and beautiful sights that will attract people.
The hosting of the America's Cup will only hasten this process and give RAK the opportunity to display its strengths to the world.
What positives can RAK draw from an event like the America's Cup?
First of all, the UAE in general and RAK in particular are no strangers to the sport of sailing. It has been around for centuries. So this event blends well with our culture and heritage.
There is the UAE Sailing Federation along with sailing clubs spread all over the country. So this is an event for the whole of the UAE, not just for RAK.
Sailing is the third most popular sport in the world and the America's Cup trophy is the oldest Cup in the history of sports.
So this aspect too blends well with the UAE and all Gulf countries. We look forward to making this event a success.
What about the preparedness of the Al Hamra Village itself?
We are dredging and widening the channel that leads into the village. The Al Hamra Village is ready, the island is ready.
Now we are only putting in place the base for the teams. All this work will be completed by September 25. We can say that the race can even be held from the next day [September 26].
We are preparing extra rooms for the crew and support staff in the Palace Hotel that was originally scheduled to open only in February next year.
We are going to open some 200 odd rooms in the Palace Residence by the end of September as well.
Were there other venues in the UAE that were in the running to host the event?
I am not aware of any other venue that Alinghi considered in the UAE.
What sort of an impact will this event have on the sport and on the youth of the country?
I think the youth in the UAE will be highly motivated after watching great sailors in action right here. There are sailing events other than the America's Cup and the youth can aspire to be a part of such competitions.
We hope this event will attract more sailing competitions to the UAE in the near future. I foresee a big interest in the youth to learn more about the sport.