America's Cup racing will come to the Middle East for the first time when the America's Cup World Series is sailed in Muscat, Oman, on Feb. 27-28, according to Bernie Wilson of the AP. It is a "surprising choice, considering that American billionaire Larry Ellison opposed the region" as the venue for the 2010 America's Cup, citing in part "safety concerns because of its proximity to Iran." Teams from the U.S., France and England are part of the America's Cup World Series circuit, a series of regattas leading up to the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda. America's Cup Commercial Commissioner Harvey Schiller said, "Security is and always will be a concern for all major events and is not limited to sport." Ellison did not "immediately return an email seeking comment." Representatives of Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing of Britain and Emirates Team New Zealand said that they were not concerned. Team New Zealand Managing Dir Grant Dalton said, "Honestly as Kiwis it's not something we worry unduly about" (AP, 12/6). For many of the America’s Cup sailors, the waters off the Sultanate of Oman will be familiar territory, since Muscat has been hosting high performance multi-hull racing every year since '11. Sailing conditions that consistently deliver a 10-15 knot breeze combined with a sunny climate and warm waters have made Oman a popular destination for many Olympic Classes that have chosen to stage their World Championships at a time of year when the weather in Europe and North America limits training opportunities (America's Cup).
