Bermuda: So Far, So Good

by Mary Longpre
I came to see a yacht race and a party broke out!

The town of Hamilton, Bermuda has transformed itself into America’s Cup party central. They have blocked off the main drag, Front Street, and filled it with all kinds of fun booths and attractions. Local business plus the AC sponsors all have a presence on Front Street.

The big stage and TV screen are up and blasting out island music with the live entertainment scheduled for each night. The Red Bull Sky diving team also performs each day before the start of the first race.

The official Americas Cup stores where filled to over flowing with visitors buying everything with an AC logo. Waits of 15 minutes to pay for your purchase were normal.

A stroll down Front Street is like touring the pits at the Indy 500. You can walk up to the sea wall and the AC World Series 45 foot Gen 2 catamarans are bobbing up and down on their mooring only one hundred feet away.

The crews and support staff are riding around in their 600 horsepower RIB’s, running between their bases and the race boats, and are often only ten feet away from the sea wall. No need for 400 mm lens here – your cell phone will get you a decent picture.

You can watch the crews, see the smiles, and sometimes furrowed brows of the skippers. Crews are friendly and wave and chat with the crowd as they parade through the crowd after the Dock Out Ceremonies each day. Once they leave the moorings its all business and off to race.

The local restaurants have moved their tables out into the street and the locals have set up food booths to serve local favorites such as Curried Goat, Conch Fritters, and Lobster Rolls. And there is no shortage of beers or island ‘Dark and Stormy’ rum drinks.

The AC sponsors have all arrived and the hotels are full. Former America’s Cup skipper Dennis Connor was in town to watch the races and wish the team’s good luck. Dennis was on the front page of the local paper ‘The Royal Gazette’ with AC skipper James Spithill.

The marinas are hosting some absolutely magnificent yachts, both power and sail.

Everyone we have met in Bermuda has been very friendly and helpful, a welcome treat in the modern world. The locals are big supporters of the America’s Cup and World Series and are making everyone feel at home on this lovely island. So far it looks like Bermuda is going to be a great venue for the America’s Cup.

Video from Friday, October 16.