Ireland proposed as future hosts for Switzerland's defence of America's Cup

IRELAND is bidding to host yachting's prestigious America's Cup following the success of the Swiss-based Alinghi off the coast of New Zealand at the weekend.

As land-locked Switzerland cannot host the event, the Secretary General of the Irish Sailing Association, Paddy Boyd has written to the owner of Alinghi, billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, asking him to consider Ireland as a potential venue for the title defence in three years time.

"I wrote to him before they won the event, asking him to consider us as a venue in the event of their success," Mr Boyd said yesterday.