America's Cup racing will head to the Middle East for the first time when the America's Cup World Series will be sailed in Muscat, Oman on February 27-28.
It's 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 United States, 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 official Harvey Schiller says security "is and always will be a concern for all major events and is not limited to sport. Certainly all are giving greater concern based on recent events."
Muscat is across the Gulf of Oman from Iran.
