In search of safer seas (image ©2009 Alinghi/Carlo Borlenghi)

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – New York’s Supreme Court has ruled against the Geneva-based Société Nautique de Genève’s (SNG) choice of venue for the America’s Cup 33rd edition. The race was to be held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, in the the Persian Gulf, in February 2010. The  27 October ruling stipulates that the race must be held in the southern hemisphere between 1 November and 1 May.

”This is a disappointing result as we were certain that Justice Cahn’s May 2008 decision allowed the Defender to choose Valencia or ‘any other location’,” said Lucien Masmejan, Société Nautique de Genève legal counsel.

“Ras Al Khaimah has put enormous time and effort into this 33rd America’s Cup project. We thank them and feel sorry for this unexpected result out of the New York court.”

The challenger, BMW-Oracle backed by software billionaire Larry Ellison, had insisted on a strict interpretation of the Deed of Gift, which governs the rules of the America’s Cup, and pointed out that “any other location” was not to be taken literally, since the Colorado River or Walden Pond were not suitable venues for a sailing boat race.

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