Bermuda is preparing for AC World Series

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda will be held from October 16-18 with Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR, ORACLE TEAM USA, SoftBank Team Japan, Artemis Racing and Groupama Team France taking in part in the competition that allows them to accumulate points for later stages of the America’s Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand, led by the youngest helmsman in the fleet, Peter Burling, won the most recent stage of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Gothenburg, Sweden this past weekend to take the overall series lead over Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR and Jimmy Spithill’s ORACLE TEAM USA. Now the series moves to Bermuda.

On Thursday that week, ahead of the opening of the Event Village, the America’s Cup Community Sailing initiative, the Endeavour Program, is planning to open its new facility in St. Georges, with a full afternoon of activities on the east end of the island. On Friday, the teams will take part in official practice racing before the point scoring races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. All the weekend racing action will be accessible to the public on land, via big screens with live commentary at the Fan Zone.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Bermuda public to get an early look at the America’s Cup and we’re sure the interest level will be high,” said Mike Winfield, CEO, America’s Cup Bermuda (ACBDA).

“This is the first of a planned series of releases that will explain the details of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events to the Bermuda public. We will be releasing more information over the coming days and weeks, particularly with regards to the activities in the Event Village and the process for spectators to access the race course, either with their own boats or via a spectator boat.

“These AC45 catamarans are incredibly fast and we are working with all the necessary stakeholders to ensure great viewing but also public safety.”

The races will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 3:30pm with a “Dock Out Show” prior to the first race on both days and a “Dock In Show” after the second race on both days. The first race of each day will start and finish in the Great Sound while the second race will start in the Great Sound but finish in Hamilton Harbour in front of the Event Village.

“We are thrilled to be racing in home waters for the first time in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series,” said Jimmy Spithill, skipper and helmsman, ORACLE TEAM USA.

A public Town Hall and panel discussion is scheduled for Thursday, September 17 during which full plans for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in Bermuda will be covered in detail. The panel will include Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority, Dr. Grant Gibbons, Minister of Economic Development and key members of the America’s Cup Bermuda organizing committee.

“We are looking forward to having the Bermuda public come out to witness these magnificent boats fly over the clear blue waters of Bermuda,” said Sir Russell. “This is the first real opportunity for the eyes of the world to focus on the America’s Cup in Bermuda, and I know everyone who visits or sees the racing on television next month will understand why we selected Bermuda as the host venue of the America’s Cup.”