Ras al Khaimah- what is real?
by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 11 Aug 2009
Ground Zero in RAK - 7 August 2009 SW
Sail-World’s recent story on the state of the proposed AC33 venue at Ras al Khaimah (America's Cup: Images from Ground Zero in Ras al-Khaimah? ( http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/Americas-Cup:-Images-from-Ground-Zero-in-Ras-al-Khaimah/59974!click_here_to_view ) provoked two very different responses from our readers:
A Dubai resident and ex-Hong Kong sailor wrote to us saying:
'You really think it (AC33) will be held in RAK? I doubt it. The venue hasn't been constructed yet and this place has a history of failing to build anything on time. The pictures of the venue show that it will be an island with no road access, and around here nobody would dream of walking more than two metres to get to anything… there is precious little sailing in this place, I have done some racing in Dubai, and it was rubbish.'
Another reader took up cudgels in support of the proposed venue, and exception to our reporting (please don’t shoot us, we are just the messengers!):
'I live in Al Hamra Village; just by the bridge that leads on to the island. Your comments (about the AC site) are rubbish. The island is complete; it has been for years. There is constant work happening on the island at present to prepare it for the event. Al Hamra Village does have a yacht club, as well as two golf clubs and a 5-star hotel. It also has its own shopping mall with a food court and numerous cafes. Al Hamra are also completing a new (huge) 7-star hotel on the complex and there are the Cove and two Hilton hotels in RAK city itself. There are also several basic hotels in the vicinity and a Banyan Tree is also under construction.
Rather than putting Al Hamra Village down, the focus should be on the good the America's Cup will do for the community and the investment it will bring into Ras al Khaimah. The weather is generally perfect in February, the shoreline is beautiful and the water is not contaminated. I am sure no-one will be disappointed with the 33rd America's Cup.'
Anyone else care to chip in?
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