Column: 5 Reasons To Look Forward To Foil Fest
[Written by Adam Barboza, Project Manager for the ACBDA]
On Saturday, June 25, Dockyard will be buzzing from 11am to 4pm when America’s Cup Bermuda [ACBDA] and WEDCO host Foil Fest, featuring Artemis Racing, Oracle Team USA and SoftBank Team Japan. There are a wide variety of reasons to join in the Foil Fest fun and below are just a few…
Foil Fest is a First
This event was created specifically for the people of Bermuda to get a closer look at the resident America’s Cup teams and their incredible racing machines. It has never happened before, here or anywhere else.
During the day the AC45s will be moored in Dockyard and the drag racing format means a straight-line race, right off the dock. The new America’s Cup format is ‘stadium racing’, making it accessible on the land and water. Foil Fest fits this concept to a tee!
Free Fun for Everyone
Admission to Foil Fest is free. This includes free parking and a shuttle service to the event village. At the event village, the Kidz-Zone and Zipline are free, as are ‘taster’ sailing sessions with America’s Cup Endeavour.
There will be plenty of other activities [not all free] to keep everyone busy. Food and beverage stalls, event village vendors and music by DJ Rusty G.
In addition to the AC teams, several Bermuda fleets, including Optimists, Comets, Kiteboarders, Moths and the Bermuda Pilot Gigs, will race during the day.
Focus on the Fans
From 11am to 1pm the team bases of Oracle Team USA and SoftBank Team Japan will be open to the public. This is a chance to have a look inside the high-tech homes of the world’s best sailors.
Artemis Racing, whose base is at Morgan’s Point, will also have a public presence at the event. This unique opportunity is another example of how the America’s Cup is bringing the sport closer to the fans.
Extra Fast Ferries
Organisers are encouraging the public to arrive at Foil Fest using the public ferry system – from both Hamilton and St. George’s. There will be a ferry leaving St. Georges at 11.00am with a return trip at 4.30pm.
Additional ferry runs will be added to the regular Hamilton schedule, with an extra ferry departing at 12pm and a late ferry leaving Dockyard at 8:30pm – so that people can stay for dinner in Dockyard before returning to Hamilton.
Photo Finishes
With the relatively short course [800m], and the ‘drag race’ format, expect tight races and close finishes. The America’s Cup catamarans racing at Foil Fest are bigger and more powerful than the boats raced here last October.
These are the ‘test’ boats being used to develop the America’s Cup Class for next year’s finals – and they are fast. Suffice to say that they can sail up to three times the speed of the wind, so with a decent Bermuda breeze the races are going to be quick!
- Adam Barboza
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Very exciting invitation and I hope the weather and wind are favourable for this important community event. Americas Cup is a wonderful gift to Bermuda that is not fully understood by so many residents.
The public relations by ACBDA has been limited and their inability to communicate, reply to emails or telephone calls compounds the feeling this is an event for them not us. They appear to have over promised and understaffed.
We will also have a chance to see our newest nine acres up close and think of how this land can be used by all Bermudians in the future. Built at a cost of $39million dollars or $4,333,000 per acres and counting this is some very valuable real estate Bermuda.
That all in and counting to build our Cross Island Marina.