While Alinghi is in the dock at Al Hamra and BMW Oracle is in the dock at a New York Court journalists are spending the impasse writing stories about anything but sailing and in the process calling Ras al Khaimah names.A Wall Street Journal journalist calls Ras al Khaimah the ‘sleepy city state’ while a writer for the New York Post gives the northern emirate this barrage of put-downs:
“A little-known, oil-poor sheikdom in the United Arab Emirates….the underdeveloped ugly duckling of the United Arab Emirates, controlled by a heavily perfumed crown prince named Saud al-Qasimi….the tiny emirate….the port of choice for Iranian smugglers to bring in illicit weapon materials and flout UN sanctions.”
Hopefully BMW Oracle will soon have a change of heart and docks so the attention can be focused on the preparation and the racing of yachts.
Ras al Khaimah will then become known as the successful host of the first America’s Cup race in the Middle East.
Other Stories and Related Sites
BMW Oracle Objection to RAK More About Light Winds than Iranian Dangers, America’s Cup in the UAE, 9 October 2009.
Said of Obama: ‘He’s Not a Muslim. He’s a Good Man’, Experiencing the Emirates, 7 October 2009.
Thanks to the Many who Serve in Fujairah UAE, Fujairah in Focus, 8 October 2009.
Hugh MacLeod on the Key Element in the Best Stories, Stories for Speakers and Writers, 8 October 2009.
Dr Geoff Pound
Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.
Image: Ras al Khaimah, home of the 33rd America’s Cup Campaign.
