( CNN ) -- Alinghi will defend the America 's Cup against U.S. challenger Oracle in the United Arab Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah next year . Alinghi 's America 's Cup yacht was unveiled on Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc in the background . The Societe Nautique de Geneve , the home club of the Swiss syndicate , made the official announcement on Wednesday . As the defender , the 2003 and 2007 winners had choice of venue . The battle for the 33rd staging of yachting 's most prestigious trophy will begin on February 8 , the culmination of a protracted legal battle in the U.S. courts over the rules for the competition . It has led to an unusual head-to-head battle for a trophy which was first contested in 1851 and expanded into a multi-national competition with the last edition hosted by the Spanish port of Valencia . Due to the time of year and perceived favorable conditions , Alinghi have opted for the waters off the smallest of the seven emirates . `` Well we looked everywhere for a venue that suited having good racing and really the whole push was to find a place that we could race on those dates in February , '' said Alinghi 's New Zealand skipper Brad Butterworth . `` It 's got a great building sea breeze during the day and it 's good for these boats to be able to sail them non-stop most days , '' he added . Alinghi , backed by the Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli , have just unveiled a massive 90-foot catamaran for the America 's Cup , a radical departure from the usual smaller boats that have been used for recent editions . Bitter rivals Oracle , who have their own billionaire backer in software magnet Larry Ellison , have been testing a huge 90-foot trimaran off San Diego for several months . Oracle represent the Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco , who were installed as the official challenger of record by a ruling in a New York court earlier this year . The two syndicates will be based in a specially-built marina and luxury resort on the coast of the Persian Gulf with no expense being spared . `` It is a great moment for us to host the America 's Cup here . It is significant because it reflects how the emirates have become a place for hosting international events , '' said Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi , Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah . Racing will be in a best-of-three format , again a departure from recent America 's Cup competitions which have lasted several months with hopeful syndicates racing off against each other in a challenger series before taking on the defending champion .
United Arab Emirates Ras al - Arab to host America 's Cup next Feburary . Defending champion Alinghi will race Oracle in best - of - three series . The backers of rival syndicates have been involved in several legal battles . Alinghi won America 's Cup in 2005 and a succesful defense in 2007 .