America’s Cup revs up in boatyard, courthouse

SAN DIEGO — The most radical, contentious America’s Cup ever is revving up on both coasts.

In San Diego, American challenger BMW Oracle Racing rolled its monster trimaran out of the boatshed, freshly modified to take on an auto engine — a BMW model, of course — to be used to trim its giant sails.

The U.S. team had to scramble after defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland changed the rules and built an equally enormous catamaran with a snowmobile engine to trim sails and perhaps move water ballast from one hull to the other.

In the New York State Supreme Court, Alinghi’s backing yacht club filed papers defending its choice of the Persian Gulf port of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, to host its rare one-on-one match against BMW Oracle Racing beginning Feb. 8.

BMW Oracle Racing, owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp., has asked Justice Shirley Kornreich to reject RAK, in large part because of its proximity to Iran, and have the best-of-three series sailed in Valencia, Spain.

In its motion filed Oct. 2, BMW Oracle Racing cited “grave safety concerns” for its U.S.-based crew that would be sailing a massive trimaran named USA within several miles of Iran.

A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 27 on the venue issue and ongoing rules squabbles between the bitter rivals. The syndicates have been in court off and on for more than two years.

BMW Oracle Racing also has argued that RAK doesn’t comply with the requirements of the Deed of Gift, the 19th-century document that governs the America’s Cup.

Alinghi said in its court filing that it is entitled to hold the racing in RAK based on a court order from earlier this year, and that the emirate is capable of the security and infrastructure needed to host sailing’s marquee event.

In an accompanying affidavit, former CIA official Jack Devine said RAK provides no greater risk than Valencia.

“Iran’s interests would seemingly not be served by kidnapping a vessel from the America’s Cup as it would: further isolate it diplomatically; antagonize the international community; aggravate its relationship with key associates, including its UAE neighbor and the Swiss diplomatic mission in Tehran; and embarrass the numerous Iranian nationals living in RAK,” Devine wrote.

Retired vice admiral Kevin J. Cosgriff, former commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, also provided an affidavit supporting Alinghi.

Cosgriff wrote that the UAE is unilaterally capable of securing the race course against security risks, “including the plausible risk of a speedboat attack.”

Cosgriff also wrote that U.S. Navy warships make frequent visits to the UAE.

Alinghi noted that BMW has a showroom in RAK and that Oracle’s Middle East headquarters are located within a 45-minute drive of the America’s Cup venue.

In San Diego, BMW Oracle Racing finished modifications to the cockpit of its trimaran — known as BOR 90 but soon to be renamed USA — and expects to install an engine later this week.

For the first time in the 158-year history of the America’s Cup, the defender has altered the racing rules to allow an engine to replace human power. The engine will primarily be used to drive hydraulics for trimming the enormous sails — the mainsail alone measures nearly 7,000 square feet.

Shore crews removed the pedestals where sailors known as grinders turned the coffee-grinder winches that were used to trim the sails. Adding the engine will remove eight grinders from the crew.

“When we originally designed and built the BOR 90, we assumed we would have to use the crew to provide all the power on board, as that has always been the case in the America’s Cup,” design team director Mike Drummond said in a statement.

“With the change to the rules, we’ve had to adapt, adjust and modify. Otherwise, the engine power that Alinghi designed into their boat would have given them a significant advantage,” Drummond said.

BOR 90 is expected back on the water later this month.

Alinghi’s cat, Alinghi 5, has been in RAK for about two weeks.