Spectator Boat Options For America’s Cup Races
Public spectator boat tickets to view the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series racing in Bermuda on October 17-18th are now on sale at www.islandtourcentre.com
America’s Cup Event Authority [ACEA] has partnered with Island Tour Centre to offer members of the public a front row view to the AC45 foiling catamarans as they race over Bermuda’s waters for the first time next month.
The ACEA has also arranged for ferries that will take 530 school children out to the watch the racing free of charge.
All six America’s Cup teams will be on Island taking part in the competition that allows them to accumulate points for later stages of the America’s Cup. Two official races are scheduled to take place each day between 2pm and 4pm on October 17 and 18.
It is expected that the races will be held in the Great Sound with the second race of each day scheduled to finish in front of Pier 6 on Front Street. The exact orientation and dimension of the Great Sound race course will be determined by the sailing conditions on the day.
Official spectator boat tickets can be purchased from the Island Tour Centre and start at $75 per day for a three-hour cruise, from 1pm to 4pm, to view both races each day. There are multiple boat options for spectators to choose from. Reduced rates for children 12 and under are also available.
“The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series is a great opportunity for locals and tourists alike to watch the races on the water and we are pleased to be able to offer excellent spectator packages,” says Ken Dallas of Island Tour Centre.
“We look forward to welcoming members of the public who want to watch the races on the water but don’t have access to a boat.”
Spectator boats include Calico Jacks, The Bermudian, Reef Explorer, Looking Glass and more.
“Island Tour Centre has a fantastic fleet and these official spectator boats will act as stake boats, marking the boundaries of the actual race course, so it’s as close as you can get to the action,” says Sam Hollis, COO, ACEA.
“We encourage members of the public to book a spot with Island Tour Centre for front row viewing of the best sailors in the world competing in America’s Cup racing in Bermuda for the first time.”
Will there be places to anchor or raft up for those wanting to watch from their own boats?
Yes, spectators who wish to view the races from their own boats are welcome to do so, but they must register first. From ACEA: “Come out with your own boat. From Monday September 21, you can register your boat with http://www.islandtourcentre.com to receive the latest updates and race course and safety information. Registration is free for boats under 50-feet LOA. Registration is required for boats over 50-feet LOA ($100).” The organizers need you to register so they have an idea of how many spectator boats will be there, and can plan for marshalls accordingly.
I was just on that website looking up what you mentioned. According to them, they are only selling tickets for they’re charters. Could it be somewhere on the site that I haven’t found yet?
Answers at https://www.americascup.com/en/news/2045_Quick-Guide-What-you-need-to-know-for-the-Louis-Vuitton-America-s-Cup-World-Series-Bermuda.html
What happens if someone in an unregistered private boat with no paying spectators on board happens upon the races on their way somewhere else and decides to slow down and watch for a while ?
Will they be shooed away ?
If you are seriously going to be out on the Great Sound on race day with no intention of watching the race–really?–you owe it to yourself and your passengers to read as much as you can about the regulations on race day. Go the America’s cup website.
Is the registration at http://www.islandtourcentre.com working? I have been trying to register all day and the only options are for various “pay” spectator boats.
Thanks
I think there is a public area, but its not very good I bet. Which is annoying because that’s very … un-Bermudian.
Now how would you know that, since the race course itself hasn’t even been decided yet?
Pay to watch a sailing race while in your own boat, ummmm how are the police going to enforce that on the open waters?
As long as your boat in under 50 feet, there is no charge to register. Registration is primarily for safety; there will be lots of private boats and incredibly fast AC45s on a tight course. The volunteer marshalls need to know about how many spectator boats there will be in order to get the right number of volunteers to manage the crowd and prevent accidents. To learn more, go to the video of Ralph Richardson on another Bernews story called “Seven Videos.” All the information is in there. Or go to https://www.americascup.com/en/news/2045_Quick-Guide-What-you-need-to-know-for-the-Louis-Vuitton-America-s-Cup-World-Series-Bermuda.html.
So I get penalized for having a bigger boat? Why not charge $1 per foot for every boat? Where does the $100 go and what does it get me? I’m gonna register my dingy and roll in my big boat, then Your numbers are still spot on.
With all these boats out there this is a recipe for amateur hour. As long as they do not come anywhere near my super yachts it might be okay. On second thoughts. Where there be any airspace restrictions? I may have to watch from the comfort of my AW101 luxury helicopter. This should keep me and my fellow members of BBIRYC at the perfect vantage point through all of these races.