America's Cup in Ras al Khaimah??

The recent news that next year's America's Cup -- which used to be the premier yacht racing event in the world -- was going to be held off shore of Ras al Khaimah in the UAE made me ask, "What are they thinking?"

Ras al Khaimah is a podunk little town on the Persian Gulf right at the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point between the UAE and Iran. It has one decent hotel, maybe two, if you're being generous, and the nightlife is non-existent. The idea of spending months of time in that locale must be chilling to the sailors who will compete. It's easy to get tired of the place fast, and last I heard, sailors aren't shy, retiring types who like to settle down with a good book after a day at sea. They'd better get used to that idea.

Then there is the wind for the sailing, which certainly doesn't match what the yachts used to face off Newport or even off Perth, after the Aussies won the Cup in 1983. I never saw what I would consider anything but light winds on the Gulf, so it isn't likely that the event will have a lot of drama, sailing-wise.

Well, on second thought, maybe. There always is the threat of Iranian gunboats interrupting the proceedings, especially if the West has tightened the screws on the country because of their nuclear ambitions. They're about 30 miles away, so it could make for great TV! I can see the headlines now. "Yachtsmen Captured By Iranians." How much will it take to free billionaires from Iranian jails?

I supposed they could have found a worse place to hold the event. Let's see, there's North Korea ... and ... and ... I'm thinking ... yeah, that's about it. Way to go America's Cup planners! You're in the top two places where the Cup should never be held!