America’s Cup Tour seeks to engage yachting community

The America’s Cup is launching a tour leading up to the 2017 America’s Cup races in Bermuda. The mission is twofold: to spark new excitement in the current yachting community about the latest America’s Cup racing; and to engage the next generation of America’s Cup fans by highlighting the technologies that have elevated the sport to its present state.

Tucker Thompson, the TV and Public Host of the 35th America’s Cup, will offer entertaining presentations about the event to yacht clubs and organizations throughout the United States and worldwide.

In conjunction, Troy Sears will take the modern replica of the world’s most famous racing yacht, America, to sailing communities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. This will give sailing fans of all ages a chance to sail back in time aboard a replica of the vessel that won in 1851 the race around the Isle of Wight in England which later launched the America’s Cup.

Together they present the ultimate America’s Cup experience and, on special occasions, they will be joined by the America’s Cup trophy itself.

“The goal of this tour is to celebrate the event’s storied history and infuse a new level of excitement and involvement in the America’s Cup now and for generations to come,” said Sears.

“The tradition of the America’s Cup is about pushing the envelope of what’s possible in yacht design, technology, and innovation,” said Thompson. “And the current version of the America’s Cup is a modern example of that.”

The tour is slated to launch in July 2015 out of San Diego, California, and the yacht America will embark on a North American voyage, serving as an official ambassador of the America’s Cup.

On its first leg of the Tour, America will travel up the Pacific coast, stopping at yacht clubs and other seaside venues en route to its final western stop in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 2016, America will travel to yacht clubs along the Mexican and Eastern seaboard before making a series of stops throughout the Caribbean en route to its ultimate destination in Bermuda, the venue for the 2017 America’s Cup.

In parallel with America’s tour, Thompson will offer America’s Cup presentations to yacht clubs and organizations from 2015 through the start of the 2017 America’s Cup races in Bermuda. Thompson will be available independently or as a package with America.

“I am a lifelong fan of both the America’s Cup and the yacht America,” said Thompson. “I can’t imagine a more perfect complement to the tour than for sailing fans to have the ability to sail aboard the yacht by day and celebrate the event at night.” Thompson, who will often sail aboard America, also plans to offer live auctions at each venue to benefit junior sailing programs and foundations or local charities.

According to Troy Sears of Next Level Sailing, the company that will pilot the tour in conjunction with the America’s Cup, this opportunity is about more than engaging the yachting community in discussions about the current state of America’s Cup racing.

“It’s also about generating greater interest and awareness among today’s youth. We’re looking forward to welcoming young minds aboard America to explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM disciplines) that have always been an integral part of America’s Cup racing.”

To learn more about the America’s Cup Tour, visit www.americascup.com.

Those interested in scheduling a visit by the America’s Cup Tour are encouraged to contact official.tour@americascup.com.