Right now Larry Ellison must be all smiles, as his BMW Oracle team recently won the famous America's Cup. The New York team took the most famous trophy in sailing back to the States by whitewashing Alinghi in Valencia, Spain.
It is a race that Alinghi, now deposed as holders of the oldest trophy still competed for in international sport, wanted to be held in Ras al Khaimah. The Swiss team spent much of last year in the northern Emirate at their Al Hamra base in the hope they could hold the 33rd staging of the competition in the Arabic Gulf for the first time.
The New York Supreme Court overruled them, as both sides used every trick imaginable to gain an advantage. Alinghi's boat would favour still conditions while BMW Oracle's was suited to slightly choppier weather - though, with so many delays when the series finally got underway due to unsuitable conditions, you had to wonder how the most expensive racing yachts in history could not race if it was a little choppy - so they did all they could to get the venue moved.
Larry Ellison, owner of BMW Oracle, made a lot of headlines around the world when he claimed Ras al Khaimah was unsafe for his team due to the proximity to Iran. Iran and the United States do not see eye to eye, and Ellison took the cheapest shot of an unseemly war of words to suggest the emirate was a dangerous choice.
This weekend was my second trip to the emirate. On both times I found residents of the city friendly, was made to feel very welcome and had a great time. Last year I spent most of my time after the race recovering (I did the full half marathon), but this time was treated to a small tour by Anna Zacharias, who is The National's reporter for the emirate.
We got to go up into the mountains, eat at a Lebanese restaurant most visitors would not have stumbled upon, and visit what Anna said was probably the last traditional dhow to be made in Ras al Khaimah. Most development of the emirate seems to be building hotels and malls, like a mini version of Dubai, and it would be such a shame if the elderly Emirati man overseeing the dhow production could not be persuaded/allowed to make more.
I was lucky to have a guide in our reporter Anna, but I'm sure the people who would have descended for the America's Cup would have had an equally enjoyable time. Mr Ellison, you might even have enjoyed it.
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