Swiss pick UAE's Ras al-Khaimah for America's Cup

Defending America's Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland has chosen the Persian Gulf port of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, for its best-of-3 showdown against bitter American rival BMW Oracle Racing.

In a news release obtained by The Associated Press, Alinghi officials said they chose the little-known city-state for its "perfect weather and great sailing conditions." The Swiss planned a formal announcement later Wednesday morning.

This rare one-on-one match is the result of a convoluted, two-year legal fight between billionaire syndicate heads Ernesto Bertarelli of Alinghi and American software tycoon Larry Ellison of BMW Oracle Racing.

The match will begin Feb. 8.