US Supreme Court to settle America's Cup feud

A US SUPREME Court is set to end the bitter despite between two America's Cup rivals over security fears at 2010 venue Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.  

Two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland picked the little-known emirate - 80 miles from Iranian territorial waters - to host its nautical grudge match in February - the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

Alinghi, backed by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, go head-to-head with an American crew, BMW Oracle, led by the world's fourth richest man, Larry Ellison.

But Ellison's crew have raised concerns about terrorism because of the event's proximity to Iran and filed a motion with the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

"As a venue for the America's Cup, Ras al-Khaimah...presents grave safety concerns for the team members of an American challenger, named "USA," that flies an American flag on a 200-foot mast," say the team's court papers.

And Justice Shirley Kornreich will review arguments from both sides on Tuesday - the latest hearing in a two-year court fight - before deciding if the best-of-three showdown should be moved to Valencia, Spain, which hosted the 2007 event.

"There will be a very visible US team going, racing close to Iran's territorial waters and there are legitimate concerns," said BMW Oracle Racing skipper and CEO Russell Coutts.

Coutts sailed unbeaten through three America's Cup matches, twice with his native New Zealand and again with Alinghi in 2003.

But the 47-year-old - Olympic gold medallist in the Finn class at Los Angeles 1984 - fell out with Bertarelli and was fired.

Although Coutts was barred from sailing for anyone else in the 2007 America's Cup, Ellison soon snapped him up, further fuelling the bitter feud between the two billionaires.