Wind in our sails

The decision to run the Louis Vuitton Cup out of Dubai has been billed as a coup for the emirate's image and tourism industry. This is true, but there are sound sailing reasons as well. Mariners have coursed the Gulf for millennia; it provides ideal conditions and the sea on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz offers another set of challenges. It has been only a few months since a legal technicality scuppered Ras al Khaimah's bid to host the America's Cup. That debacle was a spectacular example of politics trumping common sense, driving a wedge between countries rather than building bridges as sport is supposed to do. Dubai now has the chance to assume the mantle of host on behalf of the whole nation.

The Louis Vuitton Cup, which had been a semi-finals of sorts for challengers for America's Cup, has emerged as a prestigious race on its own. Both Dubai and the Cup benefit from this branding partnership.