Video: America’s Cup New York Race Preview
The America’s Cup is set to return to New York Harbour for the first time in almost a century, with racing to take place on May 7th and 8th.
The multi-day sailing event will feature some of the world’s best sailors, racing the fastest boats, in front of the backdrop of New York’s iconic harbor and landmarks
On both Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8, the epicenter of the race festivities will be Battery Park City and the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza. All races will finish just off the plaza, which will be home to one central event village.
Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the race, either on land along the pier or from hundreds of spectator boats on the water near the race course.
“The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series is a celebrated homecoming for the America’s Cup, which was held in New York for 50 years, representing the sport’s first 13 challenges,” said Sir Russell Coutts, Chief Executive Officer of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “
The trophy was held by the New York Yacht Club from 1851 until 1983, widely recognized as the longest winning streak in the sport.
Six teams, each sailing on behalf of a home country [defending champion Oracle Team USA, Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR for Great Britain, Artemis Racing for Sweden, SoftBank Team Japan, and Groupama Team France] will compete in the New York race, vying for points that count towards the final competition for the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017.
All six teams will race against one another at the same time, in a fleet racing format. Racing will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Weather will determine the exact race course as well as the total number of races per day [up to a maximum of three]. A New York champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 8, after the final race.
“We are excited to be coming to New York, to race on one of the most famous waterways in the world,” said Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill, a two-time America’s Cup winner and defending champion of the Cup. “We promise fans an exciting, hard-fought competition.”
The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series is raced in the AC45F class – a one-design catamaran powered by a wing sail, and sailed by a crew of five. This new version of the AC45 flies above the water on hydrofoils and is capable of speeds near 40 mph.
This will / should be a spectacular occassion for everyone i.e. for the countless spectators and for them that will be participating
Great! Hope there is an official AC spectator boat with a “Follow me to Bermuda” type banner on it.